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.
