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Romans 7:13
ESV Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
NIV Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
NASB Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? Far from it! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by bringing about my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
CSB Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.
NLT But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.
KJV Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
NKJV Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

What does Romans 7:13 mean?

Paul is taking great pains to clarify that he does not believe the law of Moses to be sinful. Now he goes even further. The law was not responsible for Paul's spiritual death and separation from God. "By no means!" Here, again, Paul uses his common Greek phrase meant to dismiss something entirely: mē genoito!

Paul returns to his central message: Our sinfulness is what causes our spiritual death and separation from God, not God's good law. Sin only takes advantage of the law, God's revealed standard of right and wrong, to demonstrate clearly that we are sinners. And, it leverages our rebellious nature to use our knowledge of the law as an inspiration for more sin. God's commands shine the spotlight on just how sinful we humans really are, continuing to disobey God even after we hear His law. In fact, we find ourselves sinning all the more.

In other words, we are why God's good and beautiful law cannot save us. We cannot keep it. We need to be saved in some other way.
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