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As New Testament (New Covenant) believers and followers of Christ, we have been released from the law, as stated in Romans 7:1-4 (NIV):
7 Do you not know, brothers and sisters <sup class="crossreference" value='(A)'></sup> —for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? <sup class="versenum">2 </sup>For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. <sup class="crossreference" value='(B)'></sup><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. <sup class="crossreference" value='(C)'></sup> But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.
<sup class="versenum">4 </sup>So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law <sup class="crossreference" value='(D)'></sup> through the body of Christ, <sup class="crossreference" value='(E)'></sup> that you might belong to another, <sup class="crossreference" value='(F)'></sup> to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. <sup class="versenum">5 </sup>For when we were in the realm of the flesh, <sup class="crossreference" value='(G)'></sup> the sinful passions aroused by the law <sup class="crossreference" value='(H)'></sup> were at work in us, <sup class="crossreference" value='(I)'></sup> so that we bore fruit for death. <sup class="crossreference" value='(J)'></sup><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law <sup class="crossreference" value='(K)'></sup> so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
As our old, sinful, B.C. selves, we were married to the law, but when we are reborn in Christ, the old man dies, and we become a new creature. Not a new version of our old selves, but completely new. All marriages end at death, so since the old, sinful us is dead, our marriage to the law has ended, so we are married to Jesus Christ himself. Since we are now in Christ, that means we are now under grace instead of being under the law, as described in Romans 6:1-13
6 What shall we say, then? <sup class="crossreference" value='(A)'></sup> Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? <sup class="crossreference" value='(B)'></sup><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>By no means! We are those who have died to sin; <sup class="crossreference" value='(C)'></sup> how can we live in it any longer? <sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized <sup class="crossreference" value='(D)'></sup> into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? <sup class="versenum">4 </sup>We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death <sup class="crossreference" value='(E)'></sup> in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead <sup class="crossreference" value='(F)'></sup> through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. <sup class="crossreference" value='(G)'></sup>
<sup class="versenum">5 </sup>For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. <sup class="crossreference" value='(H)'></sup><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>For we know that our old self <sup class="crossreference" value='(I)'></sup> was crucified with him <sup class="crossreference" value='(J)'></sup> so that the body ruled by sin <sup class="crossreference" value='(K)'></sup> might be done away with,<sup class="footnote" value='[a]'>[a]</sup> that we should no longer be slaves to sin <sup class="crossreference" value='(L)'></sup> — <sup class="versenum">7 </sup>because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. <sup class="crossreference" value='(M)'></sup>
<sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. <sup class="crossreference" value='(N)'></sup><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, <sup class="crossreference" value='(O)'></sup> he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. <sup class="crossreference" value='(P)'></sup><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>The death he died, he died to sin <sup class="crossreference" value='(Q)'></sup> once for all; <sup class="crossreference" value='(R)'></sup> but the life he lives, he lives to God.
<sup class="versenum">11 </sup>In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin <sup class="crossreference" value='(S)'></sup> but alive to God in Christ Jesus. <sup class="versenum">12 </sup>Therefore do not let sin reign <sup class="crossreference" value='(T)'></sup> in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. <sup class="versenum">13 </sup>Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, <sup class="crossreference" value='(U)'></sup> but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. <sup class="crossreference" value='(V)'></sup><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>For sin shall no longer be your master, <sup class="crossreference" value='(W)'></sup> because you are not under the law, <sup class="crossreference" value='(X)'></sup> but under grace.
If we're under grace, why would we choose to continue to try to live by and fulfill the law? That would be like going to your ex husband's (or ex wife's) house after you leave work to serve him (or her), and explaining to your current husband (or wife) that it makes sense for you to do so. I'm thinking that wouldn't go very well for any of us. So I gotta ask, how must Jesus feel when we do this?
This all came to mind as I was listening to a sermon at work today. To those who are interested, here is the link for the video. The entire series is amazing, but this one in particular really caught my attention.
I tried to post a direct link, but it doesn't work, so...
Click the link below, then click Browse by Series Name, then click Overcome...By Grace, and then click the sermon title "The Marriage of Grace."
http://gatewaypeople.com/sermons
7 Do you not know, brothers and sisters <sup class="crossreference" value='(A)'></sup> —for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? <sup class="versenum">2 </sup>For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. <sup class="crossreference" value='(B)'></sup><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. <sup class="crossreference" value='(C)'></sup> But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.
<sup class="versenum">4 </sup>So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law <sup class="crossreference" value='(D)'></sup> through the body of Christ, <sup class="crossreference" value='(E)'></sup> that you might belong to another, <sup class="crossreference" value='(F)'></sup> to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. <sup class="versenum">5 </sup>For when we were in the realm of the flesh, <sup class="crossreference" value='(G)'></sup> the sinful passions aroused by the law <sup class="crossreference" value='(H)'></sup> were at work in us, <sup class="crossreference" value='(I)'></sup> so that we bore fruit for death. <sup class="crossreference" value='(J)'></sup><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law <sup class="crossreference" value='(K)'></sup> so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
As our old, sinful, B.C. selves, we were married to the law, but when we are reborn in Christ, the old man dies, and we become a new creature. Not a new version of our old selves, but completely new. All marriages end at death, so since the old, sinful us is dead, our marriage to the law has ended, so we are married to Jesus Christ himself. Since we are now in Christ, that means we are now under grace instead of being under the law, as described in Romans 6:1-13
6 What shall we say, then? <sup class="crossreference" value='(A)'></sup> Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? <sup class="crossreference" value='(B)'></sup><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>By no means! We are those who have died to sin; <sup class="crossreference" value='(C)'></sup> how can we live in it any longer? <sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized <sup class="crossreference" value='(D)'></sup> into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? <sup class="versenum">4 </sup>We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death <sup class="crossreference" value='(E)'></sup> in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead <sup class="crossreference" value='(F)'></sup> through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. <sup class="crossreference" value='(G)'></sup>
<sup class="versenum">5 </sup>For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. <sup class="crossreference" value='(H)'></sup><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>For we know that our old self <sup class="crossreference" value='(I)'></sup> was crucified with him <sup class="crossreference" value='(J)'></sup> so that the body ruled by sin <sup class="crossreference" value='(K)'></sup> might be done away with,<sup class="footnote" value='[a]'>[a]</sup> that we should no longer be slaves to sin <sup class="crossreference" value='(L)'></sup> — <sup class="versenum">7 </sup>because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. <sup class="crossreference" value='(M)'></sup>
<sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. <sup class="crossreference" value='(N)'></sup><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, <sup class="crossreference" value='(O)'></sup> he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. <sup class="crossreference" value='(P)'></sup><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>The death he died, he died to sin <sup class="crossreference" value='(Q)'></sup> once for all; <sup class="crossreference" value='(R)'></sup> but the life he lives, he lives to God.
<sup class="versenum">11 </sup>In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin <sup class="crossreference" value='(S)'></sup> but alive to God in Christ Jesus. <sup class="versenum">12 </sup>Therefore do not let sin reign <sup class="crossreference" value='(T)'></sup> in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. <sup class="versenum">13 </sup>Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, <sup class="crossreference" value='(U)'></sup> but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. <sup class="crossreference" value='(V)'></sup><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>For sin shall no longer be your master, <sup class="crossreference" value='(W)'></sup> because you are not under the law, <sup class="crossreference" value='(X)'></sup> but under grace.
If we're under grace, why would we choose to continue to try to live by and fulfill the law? That would be like going to your ex husband's (or ex wife's) house after you leave work to serve him (or her), and explaining to your current husband (or wife) that it makes sense for you to do so. I'm thinking that wouldn't go very well for any of us. So I gotta ask, how must Jesus feel when we do this?
This all came to mind as I was listening to a sermon at work today. To those who are interested, here is the link for the video. The entire series is amazing, but this one in particular really caught my attention.
I tried to post a direct link, but it doesn't work, so...
Click the link below, then click Browse by Series Name, then click Overcome...By Grace, and then click the sermon title "The Marriage of Grace."
http://gatewaypeople.com/sermons
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