Released from the Law: We Belong to Christ

Released from the Law: We Belong to Christ 

Rom 7:1  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 

Rom 7:2  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 

Rom 7:3  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 

Rom 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 

Rom 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 

Rom 7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 

Moses' Law Reveals Sin

Rom 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 

Rom 7:8  But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 

Rom 7:9  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 

Rom 7:10  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 

Rom 7:11  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 

Rom 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 

Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 

Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 

Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 

Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 

Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 

Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 

Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

Released from the Law Moses': We Belong to Christ

The profound message of our liberation from the constraints of the Law and our belonging to Christ resounds throughout the Book of Romans. In Romans 7:1, the Apostle Paul addresses the congregation directly, particularly those who are familiar with the Mosaic Law, emphasizing that the law governs a person’s life only as long as they are alive. It’s a powerful reminder of the authoritative grasp the Law holds over humanity, illustrating a deep and inherent connection between the Law and cultural practices of the time.

In verses 2 and 3, Paul provides a relatable analogy about marriage to explain this relationship further. A woman is bound to her husband by the law, which remains in force for as long as he is alive. However, should the husband pass away, she is freed from that binding law. If she were to take on another partner while her husband lives, society would view her as an adulteress. Yet, if her husband is no longer living, she is liberated from that legal obligation, allowing her to enter into a new marriage without carrying the weight of guilt or condemnation. This metaphor beautifully illustrates our dynamic with the Law and points toward a greater spiritual truth.

Paul progresses to reveal a captivating twist in verse 4—that we, too, have died to the Law through the body of Christ. This metaphorical death allows believers to unite with Jesus, the one who triumphed over death, thereby cultivating a fruitful relationship with God that transcends mere adherence to outdated rituals or traditions. The law has served its purpose, yet through Christ, we are reborn into a living faith that ought to result in spiritual fruitfulness.

In verses 5 and 6, Paul contrasts the life of those who were once entrenched in their sinful nature with our present reality as those who have been delivered from the Law’s constraints. In the past, our sinful desires, ignited by the Law, led us to produce nothing but deathly fruits. However, in Christ, we are no longer shackled by those burdensome old laws. Instead, we are empowered to serve God through the transformative newness of spirit, stepping away from the rigid adherence of the letter of the Law that brought death rather than life.

Moses' Law Reveals Sin

Continuing in Romans 7:7, Paul poses a challenging question about the nature of the Law, asserting, "Is the law sin?" His emphatic rejection of this notion—“God forbid”—reveals an essential understanding: the Law itself is not sinful; rather, it plays a crucial role in revealing sin to us. Without the Law, many of us would remain ignorant of our sinful behaviors and desires. Paul illustrates this by stating that he would not have recognized lust as sin if the Law had not explicitly commanded, “Thou shalt not covet.” 

As he delves deeper in verses 8 through 11, Paul shares the internal struggle experienced by many: sin takes advantage of the commandment and stirs up all kinds of sinful desires within him. He reflects on a time when he felt alive and unrestrained by the Law, only to realize that upon receiving the commandment, sin wrested control and led him toward spiritual death. The commandment, which was meant to guide him toward life, paradoxically became a catalyst for his downfall. This poignant realization serves to amplify the Law’s essential role as both holy and tragically revealing of humanity's inherent sinfulness.

Nevertheless, in verses 12 and 13, Paul declares the Law to be sacred, just, and good—despite the conclusions drawn from his personal experience. If the Law is good, then how could it lead him to death? He clarifies that it is not the Law that brings about death, but rather sin itself, which exploits the commandment to achieve an even greater level of sinfulness and death.

In this arduous battle against sin (Romans 7:14-25), Paul confesses the deep conflict within himself; he acknowledges that he is trapped in his flesh, burdened by sin. The good he wants to do often eludes him, while the very actions he despises continue to manifest in his life. It’s a universal struggle faced by believers; even as they strive to follow God's commandments, sin lurks, creating a fierce internal war. Despite this, Paul is resolute—the answer lies not in sheer willpower, but in gratitude towards Jesus Christ, who brings liberation. 

The declaration, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord,” encapsulates a turning point of release. With his mind, he commits to serving God under the law of grace, yet, in his flesh, he acknowledges the ever-present allure of sin.

The phrase "We belong to Christ" captures a fundamental Christian concept that emphasizes the significance of our identification with Jesus. This belief holds that we are claimed, redeemed, and forever united with Him, discovering our true identity, purpose, and security within His embrace. As members of His body—the Church—we dedicate ourselves to following His teachings and values rather than succumbing to the prior claim of sin or former authorities. 

Belonging to Christ encapsulates profound spiritual ownership that Christ has over us, reflecting His sacrificial love that grants us freedom, a renewed sense of life, and a deeply felt belonging to His eternal family. This relationship with Him is more than transactional; it is a deep and abiding bond that infuses our lives with meaning and a robust sense of security.

Key Aspects of Belonging to Christ:

1. Spiritual Union: Believers are intricately and spiritually joined with Christ, symbolizing an indissoluble union where they become one with Him, as articulated in Galatians 3:28.

2. Redemption & Ownership: The transformative act of Christ redeeming believers through His blood signifies an irrevocable ownership, marking us as His own.

3. New Identity: This union transfigures our very essence. No longer defined by the law or our past transgressions, we emerge as new creations in Christ, empowered to live out the purposes He has ordained for us.

In embracing the truth that we belong to Christ, we unlock a life of authenticity, unwavering security, and profound purpose, presented with the strength to navigate the complexities of our human experience.

Glory to God Almighty!