THAT WE MIGHT BEAR FRUIT TO GOD

Passage: Romans 7:1-6

Key verse: 4

NIV

Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

7 Do you not know, brothers and sisters(A)—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? 2 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.(B) 3 So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress.(C) But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law(D) through the body of Christ,(E) that you might belong to another,(F) to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For when we were in the realm of the flesh,[a](G) the sinful passions aroused by the law(H) were at work in us,(I) so that we bore fruit for death.(J) 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law(K) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.(L)

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 7:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Released from the Law

7 Or do you not know, brothers[a]—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For (A)a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.[b] 3 Accordingly, (B)she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

4 Likewise, my brothers, (C)you also have died (D)to the law (E)through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, (F)in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work (G)in our members (H)to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the (I)new way of (J)the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.[c]

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 7:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 4
  2. Romans 7:2 Greek law concerning the husband
  3. Romans 7:6 Greek of the letter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Married to 'Mr. Law' (1-3)

Paul was a Pharisee. He speaks to those who tried, as he had, to solve their life problem by self-control. When Paul was 'married' to the Law, he found that the law could not change the sinful nature. Rather, the law is a demanding taskmaster. It makes our sinful nature more rebellious. When Paul lived under the law, he was controlled by his sinful nature and he bore fruit to death.

2. Married to Jesus by grace (4-6)

According to the law, marriage is 'until death do us part.' When one's spouse dies, he or she is legally released from marriage. We died with Jesus and we are free from the law. When we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection, we belong to him. When we belong to Christ, his Spirit works in us to produce fruit that glorifies God and gives us joy and peace. We are free to walk in the new way of the Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, you died for me and set me free from sin and death. I belong to you. Work in me by your Spirit to produce good fruit.

One Word: Christ, my true husband