And the commandment, which was ordained to bring life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me and by it slew me. Romans 7:10-11
God’s good commandments did not bring about our spiritual and eternal death; the sin inherited from Adam and Eve which infects us all did. God’s law is good and right, but we are turned in upon ourselves and unable to grasp the law’s rightness and keep it. Therefore, sin causes our death and damnation, and the salvation God provided in His Son is our only hope!
Your law is good and right, O God, but I am a sinner and have not walked in accord with Your holy law. Forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness for the sake of Christ Jesus, my Savior, and then move me to live according to Your holy will. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:7
The law of God is not sinful or flawed, but it reveals to us our sinfulness and our flawed nature when we hear its good and holy demands. If God’s law had not pointed out that we are sinning in our hearts when we are not satisfied with what God has given us and desire what is not rightfully ours, we would not have recognized this sinfulness of our hearts or seen our need for a Savior.
Your commandments are good and right, O Lord. I am a sinner and deserving of Your wrath and punishment. Have mercy upon me and pardon my sins for the sake of the blood of Christ Jesus, shed on the cross for my sins and the sins of all. In His name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
True knowledge and true wisdom begin with proper regard for the LORD God who made us and gives us life. Many, thinking themselves wise, foolishly despise the wisdom and instruction the LORD offers and gives us in His Word and neglect to repent and look in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness.
Keep me from foolishness, O LORD, and, by means of Your Word, make me wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
If we turn away from Christ Jesus and fall back into our old sinful ways, the end result is death, both spiritual and eternal. But if we, by the gracious working of God through His Word, continue in sincere repentance, trusting in Christ Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness, God’s gift to us is eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grant to me a penitent heart, O God, and true faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world that I may obtain Your pardon and partake of the eternal joys of heaven. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:15-16
Are we free to sin because we are saved by grace? The answer of God’s Word is an emphatic, “No!” If we yield ourselves to sin, we become enslaved in sin, leading to eternal death. If we continue in true repentance and faith, we are counted righteous in Christ Jesus and will seek to turn away from sin and live for Him.
Dear Father in heaven, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]