Romans 7:9

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

And I was [once] alive before being aware of the law [i.e., complacent and without a sense of guilt]; but when [awareness of] the commandment [not to sin] came, sin sprang to life,

Cross References

Galatians 3:10

For all who seek to be right with God by trying to meet all the requirements of the Law of Moses are under a curse [from God], because it is written [Deut. 27:26], “Every person is cursed [i.e., cut off from God] who does not continue to obey all of the requirements written in the Law of Moses.”

Romans 8:7

This is because the one whose mind is [controlled] by the flesh is an enemy of God; for he is not obedient to God’s law, and in fact, cannot obey it.

Galatians 2:19

For it was by means of [this system of] law-keeping that I [realized I] was dead. This was so I could find life through a relationship with God.

Romans 10:5

For Moses wrote [Lev. 18:5] about a person being made right with God by obeying the requirements of the Law of Moses, that he would gain [never ending] life for doing this.

Romans 7:11

For by means of God’s commandment [against sinning], sin found an opportunity to deceive me and [even] kill me [spiritually].

Romans 7:6

But now that we have died to what controlled us and have been released from [the requirements of] the Law of Moses [i.e., under the Gospel age], we serve [God] in a new way [directed] by the Holy Spirit [Note: Some take “Spirit” here to be “spirit” and see it as describing the inner person], and not in the old way [directed] by the written Law of Moses.

Romans 7:4

Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law [i.e., were released from its binding requirements] through the body of Christ [Note: This seems to refer to Christ’s death on the cross, but some think it refers to becoming a part of the church], so that you could belong to someone else, [namely] to Christ, who was raised from the dead in order that we might live spiritually productive lives for God.

Luke 18:21

And the ruler replied, “I have [already] been observing all of these commandments since I was [very] young.”

Luke 15:29

But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have served you [as a slave] for all these years and have never disobeyed any of your orders, yet you never gave me [even] a young goat, so I could enjoy myself with my friends.

Matthew 19:20

The young man said to Him, “I have [already] been observing all of these commandments. What do I [still] lack?”

Romans 7:8

So, through that commandment, sin found an opportunity to produce in my heart all kinds of improper desires for what belonged to others. For until there was the law, sin was dead [i.e., it did not stimulate excitement and activity as much].

Romans 7:10

and I died [i.e., came under its power]. And [so] the commandment, which was [intended] to bring [spiritual] life, actually brought [spiritual] death.