How do we know the law leads to death?

The Apostle Paul illustrates in Romans 7:9 that the law, while appearing to offer a structure of righteousness, actually brings condemnation and death. He describes an experience where the commandment awakened an understanding of sin that was previously dormant. The law's true function is to unveil the nature of sin entrenched in the heart, which cannot be escaped. When Paul states, 'I died,' he underscores the transformative realization of his mortality and the futility of attempting to achieve eternal life through external obedience alone. This revelation underscores the essential Reformed belief that the law highlights our need for grace and the inability of human effort to attain righteousness before a holy God.