Romans 7

ScriptureRomans 7:2 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.Observation - What does it say?Paul uses the illustration of the covenant of marriage to describe how those who are in Christ have been set free from the law. Like a woman whose husband dies is no longer bound to her husband, the woman (or man) in Christ is no longer bound to the law of sin and death. She is free to be bound to another. In this case, she is bound to Christ and the body of believers.Understanding - What does it mean?The Christian is no longer bound to the law but to Christ!Our sinful man was bound to the law and it’s consequences. But according to 1 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 2:20, your old self was crucified with Christ on the cross and you are a new creation. Your sinful nature is dead. My sinful nature is dead. (Side note: Do I still sin? Yes. But that isn’t evidence my sinful nature is still alive. Adam sinned in the garden without having a sin nature.)

Now in Christ, our sinful nature has been put to death so we no longer have to obey it. We are no longer bound to it. And, we are no longer bound to the law’s consequences. We have been forgiven and made alive to God in Christ Jesus!

Romans 8 says, “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”Galatians 2:19-21 ¹⁹ “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”Life ApplicationWorship God for setting me free from the law and it’s consequences!When temptation comes, remember I no longer have to give in because Christ set me free!God, I worship you! Thank you for the riches of your grace, expressed in your kindness to us in Christ. Thank you for freeing us when we couldn’t free ourselves. Thank you for salvation and forgiveness and for new life! In view of your great mercy, we choose to no longer use our bodies to sin but we offer them as living sacrifices to you. Amen.To check out the discussion or to join in click here.