The Watchman Chronicles

In Romans 7:4, we have an interesting statement given by Paul. He says, “ Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ …” Because so many honest Christians believe Paul’s message to the early church was that the law was no longer binding, many who read this text believe that Paul was doubling down on the assertion that believers no longer need to keep the law. However, a closer analysis of this chapter reveals that Paul’s message was less about the law and more about an inner struggle that every believer who truly recognizes their sinfulness will have. However, in order to understand the full scope of Paul’s message, we must understand how Jewish law viewed the relationship between a husband and wife. The Woman Who is Bound to Her Husband Romans 7:1 - 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? Here, Paul reminds his readers that the law only has dominion over those who are living. It is important to see that the context of Paul’s thesis pivots around death and the law. Romans 7:2 - For the 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 from the law of her husband . To support Paul’s opening statement, he now gives his readers an example that everyone could relate to—marriage. According to Jewish law, the husband was the only party in a marriage that could initiate divorce. Notice how this fact is brought out in a conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees: They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so . Matthew 19:7-8 Notice, that it was the men who were suffered to put away their wives, not the wives who were suffered to put away their husbands. This brings into context why Paul reminded his readers that a woman was bound by the law to her husband as long as he was living. She was bound because only the husband could initiate divorce while both parties were still living. The woman’s only hope to be released from her husband was if he died. Another man? Paul doubles down on his example, by reiterating that a woman who was married to another man while her husband was still living was called an adulteress. Romans 7:3 - 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 . However, I want you to notice that at the end of the text, it says “another man.” This phrase should reveal to you that there are two men in the picture. The first man was her first husband, and the second man was her new husband. While this may seem basic, many Evangelicals have been taught the lie that the first marriage was to the law. This is incorrect. The woman was not bound to the law through the law; the woman was bound to her FIRST HUSBAND through the law. Dead To The Law Romans 7:4 - 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 . Paul then makes a powerful and conclusive statement by telling his readers that they have also become dead to the law. However, is Paul telling us we can sin freely? What does Paul mean? The Law, Sin, and Death Paul understood that there’s a relation between the law, sin, and death. According to Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death…” Well, what is sin? According to 1John 3:4 – “Sin is the transgression of the law.” When we look at these components wholistically, we should see a clear system of truth.

1Peter 3:18-19 says, " For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison ."