Peering Deep Into Romans 7 Intro

"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? For a 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 form the law of her husband. 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.

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. 

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sin, which were by the law, did work in our bodies to bring forth fruit unto death. 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. (Romans 7:1-6). 

In the six verses that have been read, there is given us an illustration and the application. The illustration is easily understood. The simple fact of marriage is taken. A woman having a husband is bound to that husband so long as he liveth. 

Q: By what is she bound? 

A: By the law. 

It is contrary to the law for her to have two husbands at the same time; but if the first husband be dead, the same law will allow her to marry another man. This is but a plain illustration, and if it is kept in mind throughout the study of the chapter, it will be a great help to us in understanding it. 

 

Note the class of people to whom Paul is writing. "I speak to them that know the law." This epistle is addressed to professed followers of Christ.

Now to the illustration: While the law will not allow the woman to be united to two husbands at the same time, it will allow her to be united to two in succession. It is the law that allows her, and it is the law that unties her. The same law that unites her to the first husband also allows her to be united to the second, after that the first is dead.

Now to the application: "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 ye should bring forth fruit unto God." 

We can determine who the two husbands are by beginning with the second one. The "another" to whom we are to be married, is the one who has been raised from the dead, and that is Christ. We are one of the parties in the second marriage, and Christ is the other. He is the second husband. 

 

The question now arises, 

Q: Who was the first husband that died, in order that we might be united to the second? 

A: The sixth chapter has answered that. Compare Romans 7:5 with Romans 6. "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." 

The law held us in the first union and now to what were we united?

Q: What were we in? 

A: We were in union with the flesh. In the sixth chapter we found that the body of sin is destroyed by Christ. 

Q: By what means is it that the body of sin becomes destroyed? 

A: By the man being crucified with Christ.

In the first place we are joined to sin — the sinful flesh. 

We cannot serve two masters. 

Here are two figures. 

We are servants to one master — united to one husband. 

We cannot serve two masters at the same time and we cannot be united to two husbands at the same time. But we can be united to two in succession. 

The first one of these, to whom we have all been united, is the body of sin; the second is Christ, who is raised from the dead."

E.J. Waggoner