Castlebar Christian Fellowship

Released from the law?

Reading: Romans 7:1-6

1 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?
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 of marriage.
3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.
6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Introduction:
Between 1947 and 1956 the amazing discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls, in the caves of Qumran in Israel, became one of the greatest archaeological breakthroughs of the 20th Century. The earliest copies of scripture were discovered and many other important scrolls.
The story goes as the news broke out over the airwaves one little girl was heard to remark, "I hope they haven't found any more commandments."
For most of us the term Law doesn't really do a lot for us. We don't think of it in inspirational terms. It's not something that excites us. (In our experience it's actually something that usually is a turn off!) Today's reading raises the timeless questions regarding the Christian and his relationship to the Law of Moses. (Torah) What place, if any, does the law have in our lives?
It's important to remind ourselves that the law was central to the Jews. The typical Jewish view in Paul's day was that God gave the law to counteract the sinful human impulse. In Judaism there was the proverb, "The more Torah the more life" (Mishnah, Aboth 2.7).
Because of Paul's seemingly negative remarks about the law he was often misinterpreted as anti-law. (Acts 21:28)
Paul was not against the law but he was very aware of the purposes which it served and its limitations because of human weakness. His whole outlook on law had been radically transformed through his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.
In v14 of the previous chapter, Romans 6:14 we're given a tremendous promise, For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace, but what does it mean "you are not under law but under grace"?
Its only here in chapter seven that Paul begins to explore our relationship to the law: He views it as an old relationship that's now dead and gone!
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In v1 Paul opens with these words, 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?
Paul is relating here to these believers a general principle that was common knowledge to all of them. As a mixed congregation they were familiar with Roman law and the Law of Moses. They knew that with regards to any law, "death ends obligations and attachments, dissolves ties, and releases bonds." (William Hendriksen)
There's no point in saying to a dead man you have broken the law or pay up the fine imposed by the court! He can't hear you and he can't respond in any way! You cannot prosecute or punish him in any way!
You could say he's free from the authority of the law and he's released from its domination because his death has occurred. Paul is not just being technical with them at this point in the letter. We're told that his use of the word brothers here and in V4 is an affectionate form of address and that "it perhaps indicates that he is becoming emotionally involved." (Leon Morris) This is something he feels deeply and wants very much to communicate to them as of vital importance.
He goes on to give an example or illustration of what he means. It's important to remind ourselves at this point when he starts to talk about marriage here, that marriage is not the central issue. He is not teaching "for or against divorce (and remarriage)". He is not throwing in a little freebie marriage seminar as he goes along.
He is making an analogy from marriage, that "death sets aside marriage law obligations." (Alan F. Johnson) He is using this particular marriage scenario to make some focussed points just as he used baptism as an illustration in the last chapter. This is not some sort of allegory where every detail has to have some corresponding meaning.
V2-3.He says, 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 of marriage.
So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
I believe the main focus of these verses is that when the death of the spouse occurs the surviving spouse is no longer bound by the terms of that marriage contract. Death releases the living partner from that bond. The marriage law require an exclusive relationship and for that reason if she forms a union with another man while her husband is alive its adultery. The death of her husband dissolves the marriage and she is free to marry another. (Remember this is a general illustration of a Christian's relationship to the law.)
In verse four he gets to the nub of the issue.
V4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
This is not death by natural causes. This is a planned death. you also died can be translated, "You were put to death".
You also died to the law through the body of Christ,
I believe Paul is talking here once more about the amazing depths of Calvary! This verse is the central point in today's reading. (It refers to the central point in world history; the death of Jesus on the cross.)
"The death of Christ on the cross has made you 'dead' to the claims of the Law." (J.B. Phillips)As John Piper reminds us, "In other words, by faith we have been united with Christ (as 6:5 says) so that his death becomes our death. And therefore, Paul says, we have died to the Law. Christ bore the punishment that the Law required, and Christ fulfilled the perfect obedience that the Law demanded. So in him I am released from the Law." - End quote.
He has taken all our indebtedness upon himself at the cross. All our I.O.U.'s are paid for at Calvary!
"Not the labours of my hands
Can fulfil thy law's commands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and thou alone."
Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778

As one writer reminds us, "Believers are through with law. It is not for them an option as a way of salvation. They do not seek to be right with God by obeying some sort of law, as the adherents of almost all religions have done." Leon Morris.
We have been incorporated into Christ's death. That death is a death to the law. There is finality about death. Death ends a relationship.
(We have in fact been incorporated into Christ's death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Romans 6:4-5. Ephesians 2)
You see, the purpose of Christ's death was to bring us into a religion with lots of rules and regulations!
No it was to bring us into relationship with himself. This death spells the end of the old relationship and the beginning of a new relationship. You also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead,
(Men bear with the language. It's a metaphor! Actually nowhere does it say that we as individuals are the bride of Christ. It's a term used collectively of the Church. Ephesians 5:24-33)
This is about the most intimate relationship we know in human terms. It's more than a civil contract. Yes there are expectations and legal obligations but there is a totally different motivation to fulfil them. It's called love. The vows are for the sake of the marriage and not the marriage for the sake of the vows. This is about belonging to another.

Of course this also has a purpose in view.
That you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
In order that we might bear fruit to God. In terms of scripture, what is the most important fruit?
Answer:Love. According to scripture it's the fountainhead of all the fruit of the Spirit. It's the greatest of all virtues. It's the fulfilling of all the law. (Romans 13:8-10)
Paul now contrasts their past experience with the present! Look at V5
V5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature. Lit. 'In the flesh: ( Greek sarx). This word is used frequently in the New Testament. It generally refers to our mortal body and doesn't have any bad connotation. It's the same word that used of Jesus regarding his incarnation. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." It refers to our flesh and blood, material nature. Paul often uses it in this neutral way but he also has another use for the word in particular contexts. He often uses the word in an ethical sense that describes a negative principal in each and every human being. He is referring to "human nature as controlled and directed by sin", the flesh dominated by sin, law and death. Even though he uses the word literally translated flesh, he is referring to a deeper and disordered spiritual reality. The NIV often translates this usage as "the sinful nature".
Even when you look at the list described as the "works of the flesh" as outlined in Galatians, many of them immediately can be recognised as spiritual realities. (Galatians 5:19-21)
V5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, Paul is referring to their past lives. In the next verse he says, (V6) But now.
When we were (Lit.) 'In the flesh', our human nature was "controlled and directed by sin". He tells us, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.
In Romans 8:9 Paul reminds the Christians, You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)
The law wasn't doing us any good. It actually stimulated sinful passions in us rather than subdued them. (In computer terminology the software was fine; perfect in fact. The problem was with the hardware!)We were locked into a double bind. Our flesh and the law sparked off against each other and issued in things that lead to death. We bore fruit for death. "We became productive - for death!" (J.B. Phillips) We were trapped and held down (bound) and the only way out was through what Jesus accomplished at the Cross.
I love these next words, BUT NOW! (An amazing change has taken place!)
V6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
"This death to the law had been accomplished in the death of Christ and our union with him in his death as stated explicitly in V4." (J.Murray)
V4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ.
That relationship to law has been terminated. It's over. Kaput!
Does that mean that we just swan about till the Lord comes or calls us home? Are our lives just some sort of aimless endeavour? NO! Read V6
V6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
We have been set free to serve. Again what's the greatest service we can render God and our fellow human beings? Galatians 5:13ff. You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Freedom from the law means were freed to love.
Our liberty does not mean licence. It doesn't mean we become lawless. The Apostle John actually defines sin as lawlessness 1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. This freedom through the death of Christ does not make us lawless people but it makes us loving people.
Paul goes on to describe this life of service and by way of a contrast he shows that it is not motivated externally by a written law code but its motivated internally by the Holy Spirit through heart change. We serve in the new way of the Spirit,
"Not under the old written code." (ESV) (Romans 6:14)
The old way of the written code "refers to the law and the law is called the letter because it was written." (John Murray)
The same sort of language is used by Paul in 2Corinthians 3:5-6 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant- not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Paul was mindful that he was a minister of the New Covenant. We know that this New Covenant was promised many years before by the prophet Jeremiah.
The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, declares the LORD.
33 This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the LORD. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Were reminded by Ezekiel I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh Ezekiel 11:19,
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:26-27
Only the Holy Spirit can change us where it really matters; right at the very core of our being. We are not under the tyranny and slavery of the Old Covenant but we are under the gracious favour and liberty of the New Covenant. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17.
Today if you're a believer you are not under law. You are under grace.
We belong to another. We can bear fruit for God.
In our response to the law, we are not called to hide bound legalism on the one hand or lax lawlessness on the other. The old relationship to the law is finished. We have been called into the greatest relationship that can ever be thought possible; it transforms us from the inside out.
Conclusion:
My main Points this morning: Because of the cross an old relationship has ended and a new relationship has been established.
Old relationship: to the(LAW)
Old motivations: (The FLESH see v5)
The central and most important point: (The Cross of Christ) The most amazing death has occurred and has changed everything. It has inaugurated the New Covenant.
New relationship: to (The Risen Christ)
New motivation: (The Holy Spirit)

Liberation (prayer)
Footnotes:
The law hasn't changed we have changed. The Ten Commandments are still the Ten Commandments. They haven't been changed into the Ten Suggestions. In Paul's illustration he didn't say the law had died but that we had died to the law.