The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
If there were no sin, there would be no death. Man's transgression of the law gives death its lawful power.
Strength of sin is the law. Without the law, sin is not discerned or imputed (Romans 3:20; Romans 4:15; Romans 5:13). The law aggravates sin by making its contrariety to God's will apparent. Christ's people are no longer "under the law" (Romans 6:14).