Romans - No Longer Bound to the Law

No Longer Bound to the Law

Romans 7:1-6

 

“...don’t you know that the law applies only while a person is living?” Romans 7:1b

 

            Paul uses an excellent illustration by comparing marriage to our relationship to the Mosaic law. He says that when a spouse passes away the law regarding marriage no longer applies to the one who remains. 

            When a person receives Christ into their life they are at that point dead to sin, for Christ by virtue of His death on the cross, paid our sin debt so our sins are no longer able to condemn us. An unsaved person’s life is centered on personal gratification ... they are self-absorbed. A believer has God as his or her center, with their view of everything changing. They are now living in the Spirit. They no longer have to figure things out on their own. Their personal spiritual guide is within us to lead and direct them into all Godly things.

            It dawned on me that perhaps Paul used a marriage illustration because the Church is called “the bride” while Jesus is called “the bride groom”. So in a manner of speaking our relationship with Christ is like a marriage. We cultivate our relationship with our new spouse to know them intimately. We don’t strive to imitate our spouse, so in that regard it is different than our intimacy with Christ, for He is our example of how to live a life that is victorious and pleasing to our Lord. Christ died so that we might live, and this new life is no longer bound by the law. Having said that, with sins forgiven and our new godly guide to lead us we end up abiding by the OT law out of happenstance and not out of obligation. Following the law to please God is no longer mandatory, but voluntary. Next time we discuss how God’s law reveals our sin. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.