We Have Been Released from the Law (Romans 7:1-6)

We Have Been Released from the Law

  

 

 

[Romans 7:1-6]

 

 

This is Romans 7:1 – “Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?”  In this passage, the word "law" appears twice.  When looking at the entire Romans Chapter 7 in the Korean Bible, the word "법" (the law) appears 11 times, and the word "율법" (the law) appears 12 times.  In the original Greek, the word “νόμος” (nomos) appears 23 times in Romans Chapter 7.  In Romans Chapter 7, the apostle Paul is discussing the relationship of the justified ones with the law.  He is addressing brothers and sisters who are familiar with the law, emphasizing that the law has authority over a person only as long as they are alive (v. 1).  In other words, when a person dies, the law no longer has jurisdiction over them.  Regardless of how powerful the law may be, it has no effect on a deceased person.

 

This is Romans 7:2-3: “For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.  So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.”  Here, the apostle Paul uses the example of marriage to illustrate his point.  A married woman (or man) is legally bound to their spouse as long as the spouse is alive, but if the spouse dies, they are released from that legal obligation (set free).

 

This is Romans 7:4 – “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  In Romans 7:1, the apostle Paul speaks to those who are familiar with the law, stating that the law has authority over a person only as long as they are alive.  He goes on to say that those who have received justification through Christ have died to the law through Christ's body.  Essentially, Paul is conveying that the justified brethren in the Roman church have died to the law concerning Christ's body.  This death to the law is accomplished through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross.

 

This is Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”  To redeem us who were under the law, sinless Jesus Christ came to this world, born under the law, and faithfully observed the law.  Therefore, we underwent death concerning the law through Him.  This is described in Matthew 3:13-17: “Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.  But John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’  But Jesus answering said to him, ‘Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’  Then he permitted Him.  After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’”  Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, desired to receive baptism from John the Baptist, and He did so because "it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness" (Mt. 3:15, Modern Korean Bible).  In Philippians 2:8, it is stated, "He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross."  Jesus, who came in the form of a man, lowered Himself and obediently went to the extent of dying on the cross.  By doing so, He fulfilled the will of God the Father.  In obedience to God's will, Jesus Christ, born under the law, went to the extent of shedding precious blood on the cross, providing us with freedom from the law.  This act of obedience, from receiving baptism to the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, was in accordance with God's divine plan to bring about redemption and liberation for humanity.

 

Through the shedding of blood on the cross by Jesus Christ, we have now died to the law, and as a result of being united with the body of Christ, we are no longer bound by the law (Rom. 7:4). We have entered into a new relationship where we, as the bride of Jesus Christ, are now married to Him with the purpose of bearing fruit for God (v. 4).  In modern terms, this means that we have become those who have been raised to life in Christ to bear fruit for God (v. 4).

 

The "fruit for God" mentioned here encompasses two aspects:

 

(1)    Fruit of the Spirit:

 

In Galatians 5:22-23, it is stated: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things, there is no law."  This fruit of the Spirit, made possible through the Holy Spirit who is with us until the end of the age (Mt. 28:20), is produced as the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, works to fulfill His pleasing will (Phil. 2:13).

 

(2)    Fruit of Evangelism:

Acts 1:8 mentions: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  The fruit of evangelism refers to unbelievers repenting, turning to faith in Jesus Christ, and becoming children of God.  This fruit of evangelism is produced as the Holy Spirit empowers us to witness and bear witness to Jesus Christ.

 

As the brides of Christ, we are called to bear the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of evangelism, offering them to God.

 

                This is Romans 7:5-6: “For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Here, the phrase "when we were in the flesh" refers to the time before we believed in Jesus Christ, before receiving righteousness from God.  At that time, we were under the power of sinful desires influenced by the law, which led us to bear fruit for death.  We were then enslaved to sin, delivering our bodies to sin as instruments of wickedness (6:16, 17, 20, 13).  We surrendered our bodies to impurity and lawlessness, resulting in lawlessness (v. 19).  When we were slaves to sin, we were free from righteousness (v. 20).  However, "now" (7:6) as the bride of Christ who has received righteousness, we have died to the law and been set free from its bondage (6:6).  Now, we are no longer bound or subjected to interference by the law.  Therefore, we serve God in a new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code (6:6).  Since we have become a new creation by the Spirit, we are to live and serve by the Spirit.  May the Spirit enlarge the scope of this service, and may the Spirit enable us to bear the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of evangelism for God.