"For when we were in the flesh, the passions belonging to sins, were energized through the law in our members unto the bearing of fruit unto death. But now we have been released from the law, having died in which we were held, so that we serve in newness of spirit, not in oldness of letter." Romans 7:5, 6.
The works of the sin nature, Galatians 5:19-22, were able to use the law for energy to produce fruit unto death. This is what life was like under the law. Remember, the law was not to make man righteous, but rather to show man's sinfulness.
"What will we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never come to be. But I would not have experientially known the sin nature except through the law. For I would not have intuitively known not to covet, except the law says "do not covet." Romans 7:7
The Mosaic Law was not sinful. It did not produce sin in the lives of those under the law; rather ...
"But the sin nature took opportunity through the commandments, working out in me all coveting. For a part from the law the sin nature is dead." Romans 7:8
Our sin nature reacts to law by using it as an opportunity to produce works unto death. This is because the sin nature is energized by the law rather than subdued by it.
"For I was alive once, a part from law. But the commandment came, the sin nature revived, and I died. And I found the commandment, the one unto life, to me unto death. for the sin nature, taking opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it slew me " Romans 7:9-11
Paul is not writing about physical death. He continued to live. Although, it is true that the works of the sin nature end with physical death. Paul is talking about another death here.
Remember, death is separation. What was Paul being separated from by the sin nature reviving?
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