Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 7:9

"And I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died;" — Romans 7:9 (ASV)

For I was alive without the law once;

I thought that I was everything that was good. I imagined that I was doing everything that was right. I felt no rebellion in my heart. I was alive.

But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

I kicked at that commandment. My holiness was soon gone. The excellence which I thought I had in my character soon vanished, for I found myself breaking the law.