For: q.d. For bringing forth of which fruit unto God, we have now better helps than formerly we had; or we are in much better circumstances than formerly we were: and so he proceeds to show how our present state does differ from the former. When we were in the flesh; i.e. in our carnal, fleshly state, before we were regenerated, or under the carnal pedagogy of the law; for in the next verse he speaks of our being now delivered from the law. The motions of sins which were by the law; i.e. the corrupt inclinations to sin, which are drawn forth by the law, as ill vapours are raised out of a dunghill by the sun; or which are irritated by the law; of which by and by. Did work in, our members: see Romans 6:13,16. To bring forth fruit unto death; i.e. such ill fruit as ends in death, Romans 6:21.
Related Commentaries of Romans 7:5
Romans 7:5
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motionsa of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.