Under The Law Or Under Christ? (Romans 7:1-6)

Romans 7:1-6

1. Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over a person only as long as he lives? 2. For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3. Therefore, if while her husband is alive she marries another man, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no longer an adulteress even if she marries another man. 4. Therefore, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, that you may belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the written code.

Romans 7, which we will cover today, explores the role of the law in our Christian lives. In other words, we are not saved by keeping the law, but by grace. So, what role does the law play? To answer this question, Paul uses the example of a married woman: Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over a person only as long as he lives?

For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. Therefore, if while her husband lives she marries another man, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she marries another man. A wife is not an independent being but legally belongs to her husband. However, when her husband dies, the law binding them becomes void, and the wife is free to marry another man. Paul uses this story to describe Christians who had the law as their husband. But what kind of person was Mr. Law, the Christian’s former husband? Was he wicked?

How should we characterize the law? (Romans 7:12,14,16) The law is holy. The commandments are holy, righteous, and good. The law is spiritual, and we acknowledge that it is good. Naturally, since it is God’s command, it must be holy, righteous, good, and spiritual.

How wonderful it would seem to be married to Mr. Law, who is upright, good, righteous, blameless, and perfect!

But after the honeymoon, the reality of married life sets in. Before leaving for work, Mr. Law gives his wife a detailed to-do list: reading ten chapters of the Bible, praying, repenting, praising, completing Sunday School homework, cleaning, doing laundry, visiting church members, helping those in need, sending overdue payments, organizing ledgers, preparing meals, and avoiding things she should not do, such as watching soap operas or gossiping.

All these tasks are good, righteous, and just. But when Mr. Law returns home, instead of greeting her warmly, he demands a report: Has everything been done? Then he checks carefully for anything left undone. Day after day, this continues. Even when she tries her best, the wife cannot satisfy Mr. Law. Life becomes increasingly difficult, exhausting, and guilt-ridden, leaving her in constant defeat.

Unfortunately, many Christians misunderstand Jesus as Mr. Law. They believe in and serve Him, yet remain burdened by guilt and unable to serve with joy. The works of the law are good, holy, and righteous. But those under the law are cursed because they must do everything perfectly. Galatians 3:10: "Those who rely on the works of the law are under a curse…"

Romans 7:9-16 summarizes this struggle:

9. I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.

10. The commandment, which was intended to bring life, brought death.

11. Sin, using the commandment, deceived me and killed me.

12. The law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.

13. Did what is good bring death? By no means! But sin, to show its true nature, brought death through what is good.

14. The law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

15. I do not understand what I do. I do not do what I want, but do the very thing I hate.

16. If I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good.

Even if a person follows every requirement of Mr. Law’s list, they will never attain God’s righteousness and remain under the curse (Galatians 2:16).