The key to understanding Romans 7 or more particular 7:14-18, by understanding verse 9. Paul says, “I once was alive apart from the Law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died”

I present the question, “When was Paul ever alive ‘apart from the Law’?”

Never. Never is the answer if you are thinking that Paul is talking about himself as a person in the 1st century.

You have to take into account that Adam was our “Federal Head” He represented all of humanity legally before God. Adam was also the “humanity head”.

Paul is speaking in a form of speach common in his Rhetoric day. He was speaking not in the first, second, or third person but in the person of humanity. It was common to change characters when speaking, well still is today.

Now, ‘when the commandment came’ what commandment? The only commandement given to Humanity before the ‘Fall’. Then Adam sinned. Sin man, or sin nature now comes alive! wow!

Is sin dead before Paul the person came to “age of accountablity” surely NOT.

How about before he understood God’s will (Law)? maybe, but I think not. It sure wasnt in humanity, sin is very much alive in man.

Sin is being personified by Paul. He gives it a person attribute.

Now, ‘and I died’. Yes, after the command, it was disobeyed, sin “came alive”(human characteristic), then humanity died. “Dieing you shall die”

Get it? Now try that on for size when you read the rest of chapter 7. Try to change flesh with “sinfull nature” (sin person)

Oh, it gets greater on chapter 8:1 “no condemnation” both legally, and after proccess of sanctification, naturally as well. We actually stop sinning through empowerment of Holy Spirit. ( A heart change that results in action change) The law could not change the heart. Paul talks about covetiousness somewhere in his writings, that teaching goes right along with it.