(Rom 7:11) “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.”  Notice the law did not decieve; no, sin within man deceives into thinking, “It is my right….”; “God is trying to withhold something good from me.”; “The ‘thing’ is worth it!”.  The Bible says, (Heb 11:25c) “…. enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” – “…and by it slew me.”

 (Rom 7:10) “And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.”   How can it be “ordained to life” if no one can keep it? One did – Jesus, and that – perfectly. The standard reflects God the Father and Jesus God’s image as we (man) once was. It is life for we can have it through the perfect Man Who became the perfect sacrifice for our sin.

(Rom 7:10) “And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.”  This should serve as a warning to those who in any way, at any level, trust their desire of heaven through their own efforts. A close look at self against God’s laws will find condemnation instead of salvation.

(Rom 7:9)  “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” In other words, in my ignorance I thought I was all right. Then, brought face to face with God’s Holy standard I realized the extent of my wickedness. I now knew I stood condemned before Him. I needed a Savior.  

(Rom 7:8b) “…… For without the law sin was dead.” This is not saying sin had no effect, ending in death. It is saying that the mind was not conscious of the level of sin one commits until that knowledge arrived through the law.

 (Rom 7:8) “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.” Concupiscence: a desire for that which is forbidden. This reveals sinful man’s heart is rebellious against God. Proof: we can it reverse psychology when we tell a child to do the opposite of what we want.

(Rom 7:7) “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.”  It is through the law we receive a clear view of self. We are not only sinners, but try as we may, we cannot keep the law. This says, “I am corrupt.” Thank God He presents a means of forgiveness and mercy – the Lord Jesus!

(Rom 7:6) “ But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” There is a beautiful verse that speaks to “….serve[ing] in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter”: (1Jn 5:3) “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” This is the result of a “saved” heart!

(Rom 7:5) “For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.”  “We…were…” but we are not now in the flesh, but in the spirit. Either you have been born again or not. That requires a time and place and the experience of it changes you. When you made your profession of faith, did it change you then, or have you since turned over a new leaf. Those are not the same.

(Rom 7:4) “Wherefore… ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ;…. that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 95)  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” Death, results of action without eternal results are the only thing which can come out of a dead spirit.