Q2. The Law Reveals and Provokes Sin

[Pastor Ralph]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

[pickledilly]

Would we be better off not to know the particulars of sin? First of all, if we were never made aware of the law, the code of moral right, we would live in total chaos (a direction we seem to heading in because of our societal drift from that very thing). But most important, we would never be able to understand God, the problem of our severed relationship with Him, or the requirement for restoration. The specifics of sin reveal the specifics of our violation of His holiness and the details of our rebellion. The law shows us what sin looks like to God.

The natural is an enemy of the spiritual. When a spiritual specific is revealed and we are told not to do it, that innate nature of rebellion against God, the flesh, rises up in protest like a fiend. Anyone who's decided to "go on a diet" understands this principle! All the things you know you shouldn't eat become the very things you want most as the mind, will, and emotions press for their desires and demands. The selfish flesh essentially says, "you can't tell me what to do…I'll show you!”

It's fairly easy to say, "don't sin" in a universal generalized way. It's quite another thing to say, "don't crave forbidden things, or harbor anger, or steal someone's reputation, or ignore the needs of your aging parents, or lie to cover up your blunder, or engage in sexual immorality" in a pointed detailed way. That kind of blinding focus on a core flaw is uncomfortable because it exposes the dark shadowy inner self. We don't want to look within that way, so we tend to try to defend and justify ourselves rather than admit the truth. But making that choice strengthens the influence of the flesh, which then exerts more demanding control than before, which leads to greater sin.

[hanks]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8)

The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example?

As long as we compare ourselves with others, we feel fairly respectable. As soon as we become aware of God

[turnerjb1]

It seems, we as humans, want what we cannot have. Look at a child; tell them they can't have a cookie, and they'll want the cookie all the more. Therefore, if we're told not to desire something, we'll desire something all the more. We want what we can't have, which is the same as coveting.

This does not refer to all sins, being told not to commit murder does not make me want to murder more or to respect my parents do I respect them less, but this is just like the apple in the Garden of Edon, Adam and Eve were told not to eat the apple. If the apple wasn't mentioned, then they wouldn't have wanted it.

[Elwood C O'Dell]

Ignorance of one

[Stan]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

Knowing does not stop any wrong from being sin. When we are made aware that it is sin sometime just that fact bring on the desire to want to do it more. Our sinful nature makes us often want things that are not right for us and that are therefore sinful. If we look at someone lustly for instnance not knowing **** doesn't makeit anymore less a sin but once you are aware of **** doesn't stop it either some time just the reverse making it worse. Only the Holy Spirit at work in us can give us the strength to over come our sins and become more like Christ.

[paulcrf]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

Ignorance of the law excuses no one. The law was established to warn us of impending violations should we continue not to take heed of it. Lawlessness causes chaos and confusion. Law establishes order.

The flesh is sinful. It desires to do what is pleasing to him. It craves what the spirit do not. It yearns passions and lusts. What is appealing to the flesh is against the desire of the spirit.

[reily]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

Our God is a God of truth a justise there fore he wants us to know the truth. Truth is truth therefor not knowing is ingnornace of the truth. God would want us to understand the truth therefore he would wantt us to know that the law is do not covet Our flesh on the other hand has two nature the nature of flesh and the nature of the spirit regenerated by the lord. Therefore the flesh responds by the only way it knows to covet but the spirit respond by do not covet. It is God's way of giving us a power over the flesh so we can chose him and his name woukld be gloried becuase of our choice.

[JustJeff]

Sin is sin, whether we know it or not. By knowing the law we see that we are not only sinning against God, we are crucifying the Lord of Glory all over again each time we transgress. I would prefer to be aware of this, realizing that I have the ability to love, rather than hurt the Savior.

Unfortunately, my flesh doesn't be like to be told what it can and cannot do. When I try to withhold something it craves it drives me nuts until I am able to go through the fire.

[open2itall]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? because sin would still be damaging us and the world around us, sin is always ultimately painful, it takes us away from God. Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more? I'm not sure I understand this, but in my experience, what I focus on rules, and so it is counter productive to focus on what I shouldn't be doing.

What I mean is that it is not enough to be told what not to do.

Our senses will only disengage with what is wrong, when we engage with Christ.

[McCollum]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

We know that coveting is a sin, it causes us to want or have a desire to have something that God has lent to some one else doing their stay here on this side, this earth journey. But if it had not been for the law we would not have known this, because the law reveals sin, provokes sin, and condems sin we have a clear understanding of what coveting is. God would not have His prize creation ignorant unto the cures of sins we make . So once again we find our understanding of "Study To Show Ourselves approved" the way to understanding God's requirements from us His prize creation. As we do wrong the Bible points out the sin that we do by name and we begain to see and notice them and be able to understand them as just what they are sins against God.

[RickJW]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

While before the law was handed down through Moses we did not have names for sin, the actions prohibited by the ten commandments were detrimental to ourselves. As Dr Ralph says in the lesson, "When we are blissfully ignorant of our sins, that doesn't keep them from being wrong or harmful to ourselves and others." The law puts sinful actions in the spotlight, it does not make a certain action harmful or sinful. For example, the is no law that says we cannot hold our hand over a candle flame, still, it is harmful to the flesh. It is in man's nature to want to do that which is forbidden. This goes back to the original sin and the fall of man. By being forbidden to eat from the tree in Eden, made that fruit all the more desireable.

[JanMary]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example?

If we didn't know we were sinners we wouldn't know we need a Savior...we would be dead in our sins, believing we're ok with God.

Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

Our flesh is fallen and in rebellion against God...we want to do what we want to do...like 2 year olds who are told not to touch the stove, are suddenly determined to touch it. The human will is what God gave us to exercise....but since The Fall of Adam and Eve, it is unregenerate and anti God, until we surrender it to the obedience of Christ. Only then do we desire to live a righteous life, and then it's a moment by moment choice to do my own thing or to do His will.

[charisbarak]

We would not be able to see how wrong it is to covet. Since it is a natural sinful desire, we would not have recognized it for what it was.

Our flesh responds to our fleshly desires & we try to correct it in the flesh. In doing so, our attention is on "not doing something" and we become aware of it every hour in our lives and it increases rather than decreases in importance to us.

[smurf1948]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

If the laws were not revealed to us we wouldn't know what we were doing was sin. We might just think of it as a character flaw or something. By knowing and having the Holy Spirit we can avoid those things that are sin.

Our sinful nature along with the devil wants what we can't have therefore we go towards the sinful stuff. With the Holy spirit we don't have gravitate toward sin anymore.

[Delivered]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example?

If we were not aware of God's Holy law, we would continue as before, living in those

unforbidden desires that are found deep inside our carnal hearts, with its reward of death following afterwards.

The Law showed us, we are not better off not knowing, we must know the truth!

And when we find the truth, we must act on it, then and only then will we understand

the importance of knowing God's Holy Law.

Why does, flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

The flesh is at home doing what it pleases to do. For now that we know the importance of God's law,

for it teaches us how to please Him instead of Self, and we become aware of the fact,

we are in need of a heart operation!

We have lived in this corrupt stage for so long, following after the **** found in the heart of man,

we need help to overcome what the flesh has been telling us to do, and to do what God tells us to do,

so we covet all the more. HELP! - I found it in the love of God, seen in Hs Son, Jesus.

[masika]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

If God had not revealed himself by this law, we should have done precisely what many nations of the earth have done, who have not had this revelation-put darkness for light, and sin for acts of holiness. While the human heart is its own measure it will rate its workings according to its own propensities; for itself is its highest rule. But when God gives a true insight of his own perfections, to be applied as a rule both of passion and practice, then sin is discovered, and discovered too, to be exceedingly sinful. So strong propensities, because they appear to be inherent in our nature, would have passed for natural and necessary operations; and their sinfulness would not have been discovered, if the law had not said, Thou shalt not covet; and thus determined that the propensity itself, as well as its outward operations, is sinful. The law is the straight edge which determines the quantum of obliquity in the crooked line to which it is applied.

It is natural for man to do what is unlawful, and to desire especially to do that which is forbidden. The heathens have remarked this propensity in man.

[Sarah43]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

Embodied, we are sinful whether we know what sin is or not. We would sin either way. The flesh responds to the law because of wilfulness, inherited through and from Adam. Only faith and grace show us the way out.

[servant for Christ]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

If the law did not reveal sin for it is, we would not realize how sinful we are and that it keeps us from having a relationship with our Lord. When we covet, the flesh is controlling our body, the wants, the desires and it hurts other people. When the flesh is told not to cover, it rises up in rebellion, our sinful nature wants to do regardless of the effects or who it hurts. Even when we are made aware of our sins, we still do not have control. Only the Holy Spirit living is us can help us control our sinful nature.

[June]

We wouldn't know it was sin without the law. It was an unkind act but after the law it was considered a sin against God.

The flesh & tthe spirit are at war constantly. The flesh is the enemy of our souls, thus always at war with each other. We must let the spirit control our thoughts, deeds, and words.

The flesh likes to control, so we must die out to sin.The human is rebellious against God. We still have a sinful nature, and being told not to do something we do all the more. We struggle with the flesh daily. We can not do what only God and The Holy Spirit can do, so we need to pray for intervention and allow Them to work in us and through us. Die out to sin and be grateful for what we have. Greed is a sin also.

[Patsy Laycoax]

We would not be better off not knowing that we should not covet because there would still be consequences to that sin, one of which is that it displeases God and we would miss the blessing of obeying the Lord and drawing near to Him.

The flesh responds to being told not to covet by coveting all the more because there isn't any good thing in our flesh, it is totally corrupt. We only overcome sin by the power of the Holy Spirit.

[joan22]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

WE WOULD NOT BE BETTER OFF NOT KNOWING BECAUSE THIS WORLD WOULD JUST BE IN A VERY CHACTIC STATE, BECAUSE EVERY ONE WOULD WANT TO BE DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, I AM SURE MURDER ALONE WOULD TAKE PRECEDENT OVER MOST SINFUL ACTS.THANK GOD FOR THE LAW WHICH IN BLACK AND WHITE SHOWS THAT COVETOUSNESS IS A SIN, THE DESIRE FOR SOMETHING THAT CRAVING FOR SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU WOULD CERTAINLY BECOME THE RECEIP FOR MURDER, UNKINDNESS TO OTHERS I MEAN JUST THINK ABOUT ALL THE BAD THINGS THE DESIRE OF WANTING SOMETHING IN A NEGATIVE WAY. BUT THANK GOD FOR THE COMMANDMENTS, IT SURELY KEPT SOME OF US IN LINE.

[Ms CJ]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

1.The flesh responds in this way because it is of rebellious nature and in this rebellion until we train ourself by the word of God to walk in the spirit our flesh will automatically respond to its own desires. In these desires it then will covet because to covet is to take control just as it did with first Eve.

Being born of man and since the garden and sin, we always fall under the temptations Jesus was tested with in the wilderness:

• The **** of the flesh
• The **** of the eyes
• The pride of life

We want what we want and unless we put or kill the **** of the flesh we will covet the desires we have until we get it and then it has been known of God to have to rip it from us in order for us to become free of it.

The Ten Commandments are all about coveting if you read them with this lesson in mind....

[Eudora]

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example?

Because with out the law to show us our sin, we would never recognize our need for a savior. Without the law, we would have no knowledge of our sin.

Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more?

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. If we didn

[house]

Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing