DEAD TO THE LAW

"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? 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. 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. 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." (Romans 7:1-4).

Devotion 3 of 17

CONDEMNED, GUILTY, AND MOUTHS STOPPED

The Word of the Lord is quite clear on this matter. There is no need for confusion. Those who imagine Gentiles have no relationship to the Law are in the grip of delusion. Here is the Word of the King. "Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable (guilty, KJV) to God" (Rom 3:19). The word translated "accountable" in the NASB and NIV, and "condemned" in the KJV, means "under sentence (by implication) condemned--guilty." Accountability to God, for the guilty, equates to condemnation.

When the Law was placed beside mankind as a measuring rod, it revealed a totally unacceptable condition. There was "none righteous, no not one" (Rom 3:10). In the wake of its probing light, "every mouth" was silenced--forbidden to boast before God. In God's assessment, as revealed through "the Law," the effect of sin was made known. "All the world" stood in the same place. No one, absolutely no one, measured up. With uncompromising language the edict was sounded, "there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom 3:11-18). That is the Divine assessment of the Lord, and the law confirmed that it was true to the fullest extent.

The Law and the Conscience

Make no mistake about this: "the Law" confirmed this conclusion. Even though people prior to the giving of the Law did not have the standard in written form, according to Divine providence, it was written in their conscience. They possessed it intuitively, and chose to dishonor it. Here is the Word of God on the subject. "For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them" (Rom 2:14-16).

Therefore, "the Law," particularly as written in stone, but also upon the conscience, convicts humanity of sin. However, it offers no solution for the dilemma! Nor, indeed, does it provide strength to fulfill its demands. Well has the poet written, "Run! John, Run! the law demands, but gives me neither feet nor hands. Fly, John, Fly, Grace doth cry, then gives me wings to soar on high."

The promise of a Savior, and a New Covenant to be administered by Him, were given against the backdrop of this most grievous situation. The Savior would liberate the captives, breaking off the chains of Law. He would render the Law
powerless to condemn the believer by removing their offenses as far from them as the East is from the West.

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You for the Law that identified my situation by nature. Thank You even more for the Savior who righteously delivered me from the condemnation justly pronounced by the Law.

-- Tomorrow: KNOWING IS NOT ENOUGH --