Romans 14:7 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For none of us True Christians, in the things we do, liveth to himself Is at his own disposal, doth his own will; and no man dieth to himself Only for his own advantage, and according to his own pleasure, when he will. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord Spend our lives in his service, and according to his will; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord Either by sacrificing our lives to his glory, if he demand it of us; or, if we expire in a natural way, by behaving to the last as those who have his love ruling in our hearts, and his sacred cause still in our eye. Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's In consequence of being thus truly devoted to Christ, both in life and death, we have the pleasure of knowing that living or dying we are his servants; yea, and the objects of his favour and care. For to this end Or purpose; Christ both died Paying thereby the price of our ransom; and rose Receiving in consequence thereof his purchase and dominion; and revived Or liveth, as εζησεν may be rendered, namely, ever liveth, not only to appear in the presence of God as our advocate and intercessor, but that, having subdued our enemies, he might exercise his dominion over us, and be Lord Of all his redeemed people, both such as are yet alive, and those that are dead. “From this passage, and from Philippians 2:10, where those under the earth are said to bow the knee to Jesus, it may be inferred, that the souls of men at death neither sleep nor fall into a state of insensibility. For if that were the case, Christ could not, with propriety, be said to rule over them, nor they be said to bow the knee to him.” Macknight.