Romans 7:12-13:  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.  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.

This Bible Gem headlines the stark contrast between sin and law.  Because God's Commands are the 'strength' of sin one might think that the law is bad.  The Apostle Paul dramatically and emphatically refutes such thinking.  He declares the law as holy, just and good.  (Notice Paul is writing in the present tense.  Paul, a New Testament Christian, is no longer subject to the Mosaic Law so 'the law' used in this Gem is a general term referring to all of God's current commands.  This is reinforced by the use of the word commandment.)

Paul's vindication of God's Commands is contrasted with his denouncement of sin.  Paul says that sin has taken what is good (God's Commands) and used them to work death.  While Paul is using himself as the object of this illustration, he is stating a principle true for all people; namely breaking God's good commandments brings eternal death.  But this is not the reason this Bible Gem appears in this Drawer.  The reason is highlighted here: 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.

What is highlighted is the explanation of one of Heavenly Father's secrets for making perfect Saints.  He uses sin to work death in a person so that sin itself becomes very evident in that person's life.  Sin can condemn a person to eternal death, but recognizing the sin in your life and recognizing its curse are the initial steps in finding the "Narrow Way".