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 levity? 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 17 of 17

CONCLUSION

Being "dead to the law" is not being freed from an obligation to obey God's commands. It IS being freed from the penalty of --imperfect obedience--an unfortunate condition with which all saints wrestle. It IS being liberated from the curse of our past sins. It IS being emancipated from a condemning conscience.

Being "dead to the law" is not being insensitive to its demands. It IS being beyond its condemnation. Because the part of us over which the Law presided has been cut off by the circumcision of Christ (Col 2:11-12), the Law can no longer pronounce us unsuitable for fellowship with God. We have been delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son (Col 1:13). That placed us beyond the condemnation of the Law.

In Christ, the Law is written upon our hearts and put into our minds (Heb 8:10). This condition has made the Law our friend. In fact, we confess with David, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psa 119:11). That is but another view of being "dead to the Law." We are not insensitive to it, but love it, because it was given by the God to Whom we have been reconciled.

All of this has occurred independently of human merit. The basis of the conferment of righteousness is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Further, "the Law is not of faith" (Gal 3:12), neither resting upon or demanding it. The result, we are "dead to the Law," freed from its condemnation, and reconciled to the One who gave it.

Praise the Lord for the marvelous benefit of death to the custodian of condemnation, and being in the care of a justifying God, an interceding Savior, and a sanctifying Spirit.

Now, read the text once again, and glory in its truth. It describes a condition that exists in every one that has been united with Christ. "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? 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. 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" (Rom 7:1-4, NIV).

PRAYER POINT: Father, I praise Your name for delivering me from the condemnation of the Law.

-- Tomorrow: New Series, THE LAW OF FAITH --