This faulty understanding of sin and the law keeps getting repeated over and over again. "If there is no law then you cannot sin" is plain nonsense. So let's see what is actually stated in the Bible: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Rom 5:12-14)
So what do we learn from this passage:
1. Adam sinned when there was no written Law. He disobeyed God (along with Eve).
2. As a result all humans being sin and all are therefore subject to death.
3. Sin existed in the world regardless of whether the Law was in place.
4. Sin was not IMPUTED to sinners during that time. In other words specific sins could not be enumerated and charged against specific laws. That would be similar to having a road on which no speed limits are posted. A person could still be speeding but could not be charged with exceeding a certain speed limit.
5. But since sins were being committed, death reigned from Adam to Moses. In other words the absence of specific laws did not mean that sins were not being committed. And the proof is that death was evident throughout that time.
6. This was similar to how Adam was said to have sinned even when no written Law was in place.
Few points on what you say;
1) You can not pluck 1 passage and apply that regardless of what other passages indicate.
2) Law – is Gods command – doesn’t have to written or law governments etc… make – its what the prophets told us by the instructions of God – John 12:49-50 For
I did not speak on my own initiative, but the father himself who sent me
has given me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore, the things I speak,
I speak just as the Father has told me
3) Sin is what God had commanded as sin Adam sinned went against Gods command– not for people to generally make a decision that I believe this is wrong or that’s right. Sin did not just exist with out law. Law decides what is right or wrong(sin).
4) Every human is subject to death, if they sin or not - Ecclesiastes 9:2-4 - 2 Everyone will die someday. Death comes to godly and sinful people alike……..
5) We are also talking about Gods sin – not peoples opinion of what sin is.
6) The passage IMO should be taken as ‘hyperbole’ otherwise it could be considered to be contradictory to other passages – such as;
“The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” [Ezekiel 18:20]
Deuteronomy 24:16 - 16 Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.
Matthew 4/17, as we are told about Jesus: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Many more passages
