Romans 7:7

Romans 7:7 says, 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. Paul tells us that we can never make the claim that the law of God is sin.  He says that it only points out our sins.  Paul said he wouldn't have known lust if the law had not told him not to covet.  Again, this goes beyond our actions to our very thoughts.  The law has a very important part in the lives of those who follow Christ. It points out our own weaknesses and points us to God, and then it still serves as a guide to how we are to live.  The law tells us how to relate to God and man.  Verse eight adds, But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.  Paul said that because of sin the law was misapplied, leading to all manner of lust.  Paul had lusted to kill Christians thinking he was obeying the law.  The law is more than simply words written in stone.  It is God's love written in our hearts that we might effectively serve Him. Paul knew the words but had not understood the spirit of the law.  Verse nine continues, For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.  I believe Paul is referring to the commandment of Christ that we follow Him.  Paul was alive under the Jewish law, but was dead under the commandment to follow Christ.  All his zeal for the law did not matter, because he didn't have a personal relationship with Christ. Without that personal relationship, sin revived, leaving Paul dead in his relationship to God.  We can only be alive through that personal relationship with Christ.  Verse ten states, And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.  Christ's death, burial and resurrection will always be intended for life, but to those who refuse to accept His gift, it will be a sentence of everlasting spiritual death.  Verse eleven adds, For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.  Again, I believe this applies to salvation through Christ.  Sin will deceive us into denying the necessity of following Christ as the only way to restore our relationship to God.  Verse twelve continues, Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Paul states that the law is holy, but the commandment of Christ is much more. It is holy, just, and good.  We can never declare the law of God to be bad, but it cannot bring us everlasting life with God.  Only Christ can do that.   Verse thirteen says, Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.   I believe Paul is telling us that the death of Christ for our sins, which was good, will be used by sinful people to attempt to lead us astray.  The Gospel is a stumbling block to many.  Verse fourteen adds, For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  We are carnal, corrupt beings sold under the power of sin until we allow Christ to set us free spiritually.  Then, we must live under the power and direction of God, having died to the power of sin in our lives.