What does Romans 7:12 mean?

Paul has been answering a false charge from his critics: that he was teaching that the law of Moses was sinful. He was not doing that. Instead, Paul taught how the law—God's commands—makes us aware of the sin already within us. The law makes us aware that we are sinners, spiritually dead and separated from God. Instead of seeing ourselves as good, and moral, we realize we're corrupt and in need of forgiveness.

Now Paul says outright that God's law, the law of Moses, is holy. The commandments in the law are holy and righteous and good, Paul insists. The law was a great gift from God to the people of Israel. In the law, God revealed His heart and His standards for right living. Paul wants to make sure every reader knows that he is not condemning the law. Instead, Paul has pointed to the greatest benefit of God's beautiful, perfect law: It shows us that we can never keep the law, that instead we are sinners in need of saving.