Sold under Sin

Romans 7:9-14 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 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. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

‘Sin revived’ [Greek: revive = anazao] sin was made to live again. ‘I died’ where there is sin in one’s life, there is death (6:23; Jas. 1:15).

‘Commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death’ the commandment condemned and killed me.

‘For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me’ sin took advantage of my helpless state and used the law to deceive me and kill me.

‘Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good’ I do not blame the law, for it is just and good in its demands.

‘Was then that which is good made death unto me?’ The Jew would ask, “Do you mean to say that the law is holy, just, and good, and yet it is the cause of your death?” The answer is, “God forbid.” It was not the law that killed me, but sin that would not let me obey the law. This made sin appear what it really is: a deceiver, a deadly enemy, and a killer.

‘For we know that the law is spiritual’ the law is spiritual and demands what is holy. ‘Spiritual’ [Greek: pneumatikos] non-carnal; religious; or spiritual.

Twelve spiritual things are noted in the Word: Man who follows the things of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 2:15; 3:1; 14:37; Gal. 6:1; Hos. 9:7); gifts of the Spirit (1:11; 1Cor. 1:7; 12:1; 14:1, 12); things (15:27; 1Cor. 2:13; 9:11); body (resurrected, 1Co_15:44-46); blessings of the Spirit (Eph. 1:3); songs (religious, Eph. 5:19); wisdom and knowledge (Col. 1:9); house (spiritual people, 1Pet. 2:5); sacrifices (1Pet. 2:5); law, because it typified the spiritual thing of the New Testament (7:14); meat and drink, typifying Christ the Spiritual Rock of 1Corinthians 10:3-4; wickedness, because it is of evil spirit origin (Eph. 2:2; 6:12; John 8:44).

‘Carnal’ [Greek: sarkinos] fleshly; natural; human (7:14; 15:27; 1Cor. 3:1-4; 9:11; 2Cor. 10:4; Heb. 7:16). Here it means the full depravity of fallen man, sold as a slave and under the control of animal appetites and the forces of evil spirits.