Reading through Romans-Law brings death

Romans 7:10-12 "And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good."

And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death: Sin does this by deception. Sin deceives us:

- Because sin falsely promises satisfaction

- Because sin falsely claims an adequate excuse

- Because sin falsely promises an escape from punishment

For sin … deceived me: It isn't the law that deceives us, but it is sin that uses the law as an occasion for rebellion. This is why Jesus said you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32) The truth makes us free from the deceptions of sin.

And by it killed me: Sin, when followed, leads to death - not life. One of Satan's greatest deceptions is to get us to think of sin as something good that an unpleasant God wants to deprive us of. When God warns us away from sin, He warns us away from something that will kill us.

Therefore the law is holy: Paul understands how someone might take him as saying that he is against the law - but he isn't at all. It is true that we must die to sin (Romans 6:2) and we must die to the law (Romans 7:4). But that should not be taken to say that Paul believes that sin and law are in the same basket. The problem is in us, not in the law. Nevertheless, sin corrupts the work or effect of the law, so we must die to both.

Dear Holy God, the sin within me clearly deceives and kills me.  Thank you so much for your law which clearly and equivocally convicts me of death and separation from you.