Paul had a fair amount to say in the book of Romans about the law of God. He made it clear that the law can’t save you. By that, he means that none of us can keep the law perfectly. We always come short of that standard according to Romans 3:23. Then he declared that we are free from the law. Grace takes us out from under the condemnation of the law. But the question continues to come up, why did God give the law?

 

In Romans 7 Paul continues his discussion of sanctification by focusing on some practical dynamics. In doing so the law comes up again. He begins with a question: “Do you not know, brothers – for I am speaking to men who know the law – that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?” Then he presents an example that illustrates this point, marriage. 

 

When married, a woman is bound to her husband for life. But if her husband dies she is free from the law of marriage. If she marries another man while her husband is still alive she commits adultery. But she is free to marry another man if her husband has died. 

 

Based on this illustration Paul explains that many identify with Jesus Christ according to the flesh. That is, they focus on his earthly life, which was lived under the law. Jesus came to fulfill or satisfy the law. When He died He did that. 

 

He was buried and then three days later rose from among the dead. Paul encourages us to focus on His resurrection life. Why? Because, we who believe, die to the law through the body of Christ. This frees us to belong to another - the resurrected, living Christ!