5 For when we were in the flesh,m the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in usC,n to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirito and not in the old letter of the law.

SIN’S USE OF THE LAW

7 What should we say then?p Is the law sin? Absolutely not!q But, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law.r For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.D,s 8 And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment,t produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.u 9 Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again 10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for lifev resulted in death for me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me,w and through it killed me. 12 So then, the law is holy,x and the commandment is holy and just and good. 13 Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not!y But, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.

THE PROBLEM OF SIN IN US

14 For we know that the law is spiritual,z but I am of the flesh,E soldaa as a slave under sin.ab