Romans 7:12,13 - Did that which is good bring death to me?

7:12

So the problem is not with the Law, but with us. The Law is “holy, righteous and good”. By the way, the Law is sometimes seen as being “old testament” and no longer relevant. This is an unbiblical approach. As a rough template, a better way of looking at things is that the Law is good and useful, but the principle of Law (living out of our own strength) does not work and was never intended to work. The morality and the heart of God found within the Law is just as relevant today as it always was. For the Law reflects the heart of God. It also points towards the cross.

7:13

When the Law came to Paul he died (spiritually). So the situation we have is that the Law is good, yet the effects of the Law seem to be very bad. It arouses sin and leads to death, or so it seems. But it is not the Law that is the problem, we are the problem! It is sin within us that is the problem. If you observe how we try to change things, whether it be at a societal or an individual level, it is the externals that we try to change. This never gets to the root of the issue, which is the sin within. The problem existed long before the Law came, but the Law highlighted the problem. The Jews saw the Law as the escape route, but the purpose of the Law was to highlight the problem and to point the way to the escape route, namely Jesus Christ. The Law left no doubt that people were sinful. We often blame the environment or the circumstances, but Israel had everything going for it. God miraculously rescued them from slavery, and He did many other miracles on their behalf. He gave them the good and perfect Law, He sent prophets to them, and yet Israel never got any better. She remained a deeply sinful people. And this sinfulness is true of all nations and peoples.