The Study goes on!

Scripture Read: Romans 7:7-13 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

Application: Notice the rendition of this in the  NLT ⁹ At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, ^10[1]

I realize that this verse is pointing out that humans did not understand how sinful they were until God shared with them His standards through the Law. Yet I do wonder if it could not also be hinting at the age of accountability? Is it possible Father that Your Word is expressing that before a person understands right and wrong they are not guilty under the law? Separated yes, because of original sin, but Christ took all that on Himself – is it possible that this is another evidence that children who do not understand right or wrong are not in a state of condemnation? This is something worth more study. The great thing is that no matter what you believe about all this – God will always do what is right. Thanks Lord that even when we do not understand it all You do!

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Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. (2nd ed.) (Ro 7:9–10). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.