When Sin Came Alive

“I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.” -Romans 7:9

Continuing in his argument that the Law give life to sin, Paul illustrates using a reversal of conditions. He was alive before the Law but when it came on the scene, sin was brought to life, and in turn, he died.

Paul’s use of the “I” is illustrative of “Israel.” Alive until the Law was given at Sinai, Israel died as soon as the Law revealed to them the knowledge of sin (brought it to life).

It is the same for us. We seem to be alive as long as the light of the Law does not shine into our hearts. And like cockroaches or rats dwelling in the dark recesses of some long undiscovered basement, sin comes to life as soon as the Law shines into the dark recesses of our heart. It is only then that we can realize just how full of corruption (death) we really are.