FREEDOM FROM THE LAW THROUGH CHRIST

Reading from Romans 7:7-27

Paul wrote this epistle explaining to believers that in order to be set free through Jesus Christ our Lord and to be delivered from law’s inward struggle. In order to understand this freedom in Christ we need to see Romans 1:1-6.

“For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him.”  Verse 2

You also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ⁵ For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. ⁶ But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.  (Romans 7:4-6)

The scriptures tells us that the Law has dominion over a man only for the time he lives (just as sin does) Romans 6:7   And the woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he is alive. So a woman is released from the law of marriage when her husband dies.

So Christians are made dead to the law through the body of Christ. Therefore, Christians die to the “law principle” (whether related to Moses or other kind).  As Christ died at the Cross therefore we are free to be joined as covenant partner to another the Risen Christ.  The Living Christ!

What is Paul saying here:

1.       Believers cannot be joined to Christ as long as they are “under the law” bound to a legal system.

2.    Paul says, to be under the law is to be under sin’s dominion. (Rom. 6:14-15)

3.       If we are under the law we will fail under the law and under sin bondage.  (Galatians 3:10-12)

4.       The law will hold us captive to sin – but we have died to sin and therefore cannot be held by the law to it any more. (Rom. 6:11)

Now we are joined as “wife” to Christ covenant new relationship always trusting Him and depending on Him. This relationship will so bears fruit that glorifies God. (Rom. 7:4-6)  This is also a new way of serving Christ.  We are no more under condemnation, guilt and lonely but related and blessed by our new spiritual husband Jesus Christ.

So the contrast of the two marriages is:

1.       The “old way of the written letter” under the law was characterized by “the flesh”, “sinful passions,” “law” and “death”.

2.       The “new way of the Spirit”  is made possible by “dying to that which bound us” and being “released from the law”  The Greek “katargeo” for “released” means “To make ineffective, powerless, idle.”

Paul’s conclusion of the whole things is that as the widowed woman was released from the law of marriage that which bound her, so the Christian is released from the law through faith union with the crucified and risen Christ.  As the woman was no longer bound by the law concerning marriage – the believer is no longer bound to sin by the law. 

Galatians 3:21-24   - New International Version (NIV)

²¹ Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!  For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.  ²² But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

²³ Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. ²⁴ So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.

               UNDER THE LAW                                                    UNDER GRACE

               (Husband-Wife)                                                          (Husband-Wife)

               Adam’s sin – sinner                                                 Christ – Believers righteousness

               Flesh – becoming servants of sin                            Spirit – servants of righteousness

               “We were”                                                                  “But now”

               Married to sin                                                             Married to righteousness

               Bound by law                                                              Released from the law

               Wife to Adam (fallen)                                                   Wife to Christ (Risen)

               Bringing forth fruit that resulted in death                    Bringing forth fruit that results in

                                                                                                    holiness, power, grace, liberty,                                                                                                             &  eternal life. 

                                                                                                                    

Romans 10:3-5  - “For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.   For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.…”

Romans 8:3-5 - "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit."

New Living Translation  Romans 5:17
For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
English Standard Version – Romans 5:17
For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.