Romans 7:7-12

Romans 7:7-12

[7] What  shall we say  then?  Is the law  sin?  God forbid.  Nay,  not  known  sin,  by  the law:  for  not  known  lust,  the law  not  covet.  [8] But  sin,  taking  occasion  by  the commandment,  wrought  in  all manner of  concupiscence.  For  without  the law  sin  was dead.  [9] For  I  was alive  without  the law  once:  but  when the commandment  came,  sin  revived,  and  I  died.  [10] And  the commandment,  which  was ordained to  life,  found  to be unto  death.  [11] For  sin,  taking  occasion  by  the commandment,  deceived  and  by  it  slew  [12] Wherefore  the law  is holy,  and  the commandment  holy,  and  just,  and  good. 

What does Romans 7:7-12 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Paul wrote that the believer is dead to both sin ( Romans 6:2) and the Law ( Romans 7:4). Are they in some sense the same? The answer is no ( Romans 7:7). The apostle referred to the relationship between sin and the Law in Romans 7:5, but now he developed it more fully. Essentially his argument was that the Law is not sinful simply because it makes us aware of what is sinful (cf. Romans 3:20). The Law is similar to an X-ray machine that reveals a tumor. The machine itself is not bad because it reveals something bad.
The apostle probably appealed to his own personal experience. The main alternative views are that he was speaking of Adam"s experience, Israel"s experience, or the experience of everyman. [1] Paul broadened his own experience into a more general picture of the struggle that every person faces ( Romans 7:7-13) and the struggle that every believer encounters when he or she tries to serve God by obeying the Law ( Romans 7:14-25). Others hold that Paul was describing only the experience of an unbeliever. Discussion of these views will follow. Every believer, particularly, feels frustrated by the operation of his or her sinful human nature.
"Before beginning the study of this great struggle of Paul"s, let us get it settled firmly in our minds that Paul is here exercised not at all about pardon, but about deliverance: "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" The whole question is concerning indwelling sin, as a power; and not committed sins, as a danger." [2]
"He gives a picture of all men under law in order to show why death to law is a part of the Gospel." [3]