What does Paul mean when he says 'I died' in Romans 7:9?
Paul means he had to die in the realm of the old Adam who was a Lawbreaker. When the commandment came, old Adam woke up and was exposed as a coveter; his death brings new life, salvation. Becoming a believer in Christ's finished work makes one a new creation, alive with eternal life.
Les explains that in Romans 7:9 Paul is describing what happened when the Law came. He writes, 'For I was alive without the Law once, but when the commandment came, Thou shalt not covet.' Old Adam woke up, and old Adam in Saul's make-up said, 'Hey, that's me, I'm a coveter.' Then Paul says, 'I died.' Les teaches this means Paul had to die in the realm of that old Adam who was a Lawbreaker. With the death of old Adam comes new life, and that is salvation. When our old Adam is put to death because he was a Lawbreaker, and we become a believer in the finished work of Christ, which is the Gospel, we are a new creation, alive, with eternal life. Les notes Paul constantly refers to this, and Peter said in all his epistles this is all he talks about. This connects to Paul's personal testimony in Galatians 2:20, where he says he is crucified.
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
More Questions
Why did the law that was ordained to life bring death to Paul?
Paul found the commandment to be death because, when he 'woke up' and realized the law was condemning him, it convicted him rather than covering over his sin.