How does Romans 5 to 8 work in a Human Being? (Part 4 - Who is the husband and who is the wife?)

How does Romans 5 to 8 work in a Human Being? (Part 4 - Who is the husband and who is the wife?)

Start at part 1 here: Part 1

In Romans 7:1-4, Paul uses an analogy of a wife that is bound to her husband because of the law of marriage. In the context of the passage, the analogy helps us to understand that we are not bound by ‘the law’, since we have died to it by the death of Christ, as explained in chapter 6. In the context of our current study, concerning the structure of a human being, and concerning the heart of man (the outer man), and the spiritual mind (the inner man), this analogy perfectly describes the two ‘soul’ parts within a person. Before we dive into this lesson, let’s first read the analogy again,

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? 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. 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. 

So, based on the above, let us ask the question. Who is the husband and who is the wife?

The ‘husband’ is the outer man, the part of us that we must PUT OFF! Likewise, the ‘wife’ is the inner man, the part of us that we must PUT ON! When Paul discusses this in Romans 7, emphasis is upon the fact that we are dead to the law and alive to Christ. With regards to this study, I’d like to place the focus on how we are to die to the outer man, and how we increase the vitality of the inner man.

Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye PUT OFF concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye PUT ON the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness [through knowledge of the Word].

How do we put off the outer man, and put on the new man?

These two opposing actions that we take from the advice of Paul has EVERYTHING to do with the Word, and NOTHING to do with our own external efforts. Remember, we are dead to the law. We do not place ourselves under rules, regulations, and constraints, to try to kill the outer man. Doing this will bring condemnation and empowers sin. There is only one thing that can ‘put off’, or mortify the outer man, and ‘put on’, or quicken the inner man, and that is the Word of God. A steady increase in the knowledge of the written Word, and the subsequent outflow of the spirit and life of the Word in simple obedience and thankfulness, is the key to this transition. Paul writes the following to the Roman church,

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit [do mind] the things of the Spirit.

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

It is not so much the things that we DO that mortifies the outer man, but more so, the things that we learn and understand, Eph 4:20. It is knowledge of the Word that transforms us. The transformation from the outer to the inner man is a renewal of the mind. It is knowing and understanding a form of doctrine to such an extent, that it is that, which changes us. The Word becomes the expression of our life.

Paul provides additional instructions throughout his epistles. Here are a few more examples of putting off the outer man and putting on the inner man. Notice how they all focus on exercising out the knowledge that one has gained or been taught in the Word. It is not one’s own efforts to try to mortify the flesh, but rather the simple application of the life and spirit of the Word through understanding and appreciation.  

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

2Cor.10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

Php 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion of Paul’s Analogy

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. 

Did you notice how Paul says that we ‘should’ be married to another? Most Christians unfortunately never get to the stage of ‘marrying’ Christ. They remain widowed to the Word. Some might try to marry Christ by laws and regulations, but this is not the way that joins them to Christ. The way to become married to Christ is by the very application of the Word from within us. Marrying Christ, in the context of this analogy, is the putting ON the new man by knowledge and understanding of Paul’s advice in Romans, and then allowing it to subdue the heart, which is that outer man. The verse ends with the evidence of that marriage, the fact that one will start to bear fruit unto God, by the effects of Christ being formed within you. Friends, the wedding ring on your finger is not your own efforts in being good. No! The wedding ring of gold on your finger is the knowledge of the Word of God in you and flowing out of you. It is ALL in the Word!