Romans 7:10 : And the commandment, which was unto life, this I found to be unto death. The commandment was meant to lead him in the way of life; but when he disobeyed that commandment, the curse of the law, the penalty of death, came upon him. Obedience to the commandment was life; disobedience brought death. This is not strange, for many things that are essential to life bring death when abused. The decree of the law was: Obey, and live disobey, and die.