Romans 7:5

For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. "For" -here is the reason that we were released from. system of law and married to Christ. "For" under such. system we brought forth fruit unto death, instead of fruit unto God.

"In the flesh" -"Flesh" here doesn't refer to the mere physical body, for Christians are still 'in the flesh, in that sense. Neither does "flesh" here refer to. state of being subject to temptation, for Christians are still subject to temptation (1 Corinthians 10:23; James 1:12 ff). "In the flesh" must refer to their condition outside of Christ, when they allowed their bodies to be used as the instruments of sin (Romans 6:19). McGuiggan argues that "in the flesh" means "unaided human resources", i.e. we needed to be married to Christ, because depending upon our own moral efforts only brought fruit unto death, i.e. sin.

"the sinful passions" -someone has pointed out that "passion/desire" isn't inherently sinful. When God designed us He built various 'desires' into man. When properly channeled these desires are good (1 Corinthians 7:2). And yet, these 'desires' can also be perverted and used for sinful ends. (Galatians 5:19)"It may be that here is the best point at which to note. grim fact about the works of the flesh. Without exception, every one of them is. perversion of something which is in itself good. Immorality, impurity, licentiousness are perversions of the sexual instinct which is in itself. lovely thing and part of love. Idolatry is. perversion of worship..sorcery is. perversion of the use of healing drugs in medicine (so is drug abuse)..envy, jealousy and strife are perversions of that noble ambition and desire to do well which can be. spur to greatness. Enmity and anger are. perversion of that righteous indignation without which the passion for goodness cannot exist. Dissension and the party spirit are. perversion of the devotion to principle which can produce. martyr...nowhere is there better illustrated the power of evil to take beauty and to twist it into ugliness, to take the finest things and to make them an avenue for sin."

"Which were through the law" -'which were aroused by the law' (NASV) 'The Law didn't make our passions. Nor did the law make our feelings or emotions sinful. It's just that when the Law made demands on us.. it only succeeded in provoking in us the abuse of those feelings and passions.'

We see this in the garden (Genesis 3:3) in Sodom and Gomorrah (Romans 19:9). Unfortunately, when many people are told they 'can't do it', that often encourages them to do it. But the fault is not in law (Romans 7:7), but rather in stubborn people.

"Wrought in our members" -'Were at work' (NASV), 'Were active' (Alf). We yielded our bodies to be the instruments of sin. (Romans 6:19)