The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 9: Widowed from the Law by Christ's Death)

Start this post series from the beginning, here.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 9: Widowed from the Law by the Christ's Death)

In Romans chapter 6, Paul has put much focus on the truth that we have died to the old Adamic administration, and therefore we have much to learn and know to renew our minds to this fact. It is our minds, and the pattern of our thinking, that must come up to the same level as the reality of our justification in heaven. Because of its foundational context, this knowledge is the first thing that we should learn, and know, after we get saved. Our minds must become so in tune with what Christ’s administration means, that our actions, reactions, thoughts, and language, should change to match the reality of the attributes in this new administration we have been transferred into.

But, where Romans 6 talks about our death to Adam’s administration, it is chapter 7 that introduces our separation from another stumbling block, —the law. Paul likens the believer to have been married to the law, but now, through Christ’s death, and our union with His death, we have been widowed from the law. As important it is to understand that we are dead to Adam’s administration, it is of equal importance that we understand our widowed status to the law.

What is the law in this regard? Well, according to the rest of Romans chapter 7, it is a set of external rules of conduct, that we would attempt to live by, in our own strength to serve God. When we place ourselves under the letter of the law, serving God is a work. It is an obligation. It is a mechanical process of right and wrong which appears righteous on the outside but has no capacity to change the heart on the inside. Being under the law eventually brings death and condemnation. In chapter 7, and from verse 7, Paul provides us with what happens if we remain under this form of law. The battle that ensues between our spiritual mind and the carnal flesh is relentless, and if one does not stand in faith of justification, the resulting conflict basically ends in a heap of wretchedness, bruised emotions, and sensations of separation from God.

So, what are our learning points in Romans chapter 7?

Rom.7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body [death] 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.

Our union to Christ’s death has separated us from the law, just like a woman is separated from her husband when he dies. In effect, this satisfies the law, and righteousness (according to the bonds of marriage) is maintained. In essence, we do not commit spiritual adultery by becoming married to the resurrected Christ. How great is our God!

Nevertheless, there is another point to highlight here. Paul interestingly says that you should be married to another. The word ‘should’, is not an order. It is an expected outcome, but certainly not some command to dictate the free will of a believer. We should press on in faith and in reasonable service, and submit ourselves to the administration of Christ, but sadly, many Christians do not. Why? Well, it is a lack of knowledge! That self-same knowledge the Paul urges us to learn and grow in, in Romans 6, but is misunderstood and misinterpreted by our modern churches today.

The outcome of living in Christ’s administration is bringing forth fruit unto God. This is fruit not only of the spiritual kind, as in Gal.5:22-23, but also of service and sacrifice to God in the newness of the Spirit and in obedience to His Word, instead of under the oldness of the letter.

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.

Living under the law, which is any action or sacrifice one does that is enforced upon one in expectation, in conduct, or in performance, brings condemnation and death. We as humans were never designed to operate under the law. We were designed to function in a spiritual relationship of love with God. Many people today end up serving the law, and when that happens, you cannot serve God. Being devoted to the law means you are not devoted to God. Paul says the law is spiritual, but we are carnal. The two will never be able to work in union. Christ has freed us from the law by His death. In other words, Jesus died so that we could be widowed from the law and serve in His administration of life and righteousness and justification. It is only here where we can bear fruit unto God. In the administration of Adam, all we can do is bring forth fruit unto death, fruit that is unprofitable to God and has no value and purpose for us now, and in the ages to come.

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.

Our union with Christ’s death is an absolute, as it is part of the gift of justification that is freely given to us when we believe in Christ. Our marriage to the administration of Christ, however, is a choice. We should become remarried with the resurrected and glorified Christ and partake in His administration. We ought to get into the Word and gain the knowledge of our death to sin and our death to our old ‘husband’, the law. It is only by gaining knowledge in these two foundational concepts that will set us on the path of maturing to sonship in Christ. If we hold on to any one of these two stumbling blocks, we will remain babes in Christ, mere children in faith, and will never be able to partake of the meat of the living Word, the mysteries of Christ, and pressing on to the high calling of God in Christ.