walking in newness of the Spirit
Continuing on with our study in Romans 7:1-13, Paul is going to talk about the newness of the Spirit. Paul begins again with another rhetorical question in verse 1 "Do you not know that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?" Of course, they knew this. But, Paul wants to draw a metaphor here. Interestingly, he uses the relationship between a husband and wife. His illustration is that the husband and wife around bound together as long as they are alive. But, if the husband dies then the wife is permitted to marry again.
The main idea here is not to teach about human marriage, but about the law. The law has impact as long as the ones who made it are alive. But, the believer has a new relationship with the law because of his or her union with Christ. We have, in a sense, died when Christ died and the law is not something we are under any longer. We are united to another, the person of Christ. That is why if you read through the book of Ephesians you see the words "in Christ" so many times. When he died we died and when he rose so also did we. His victory is our victory over sin and death.
Paul goes on to say that this does not mean that the law is evil. The law is what makes us aware of sin. You see this idea also in Galatians 3:24 where it says, "Therefore the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." It is our tutor in that it teaches us our need for Christ and our sinfulness. It doesn't make us right with God, though the law is holy. It makes us aware of our need. It is faith that justifies.
The one who died also raised himself out of the grave and therefore we are joined to Him. In verse 4, it says why we were raised, "that we might bear fruit for God." We were created with a purpose. Not just to get a paycheck, but for the purpose of bearing fruit. Before this was impossible since the flesh cannot please God. But, now we are able, by his Spirit to bear fruit for Him. And this is important for us to realize. That everyday gives us opportunities, both big and small to be a witness to be used for His purposes.
The world tells us to chart our own course, to dream our own dreams, to go where we want. But, we need to remember that we were created for purposes greater than our own. In Colossians 1, it tells us that Jesus created all things out of nothing for His own purposes. It would be wrong for us not to consider, in our own world, at work and at play, what purpose and gifts we have from him that he might use for His own glory. I like how it says this in Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
The main idea here is not to teach about human marriage, but about the law. The law has impact as long as the ones who made it are alive. But, the believer has a new relationship with the law because of his or her union with Christ. We have, in a sense, died when Christ died and the law is not something we are under any longer. We are united to another, the person of Christ. That is why if you read through the book of Ephesians you see the words "in Christ" so many times. When he died we died and when he rose so also did we. His victory is our victory over sin and death.
Paul goes on to say that this does not mean that the law is evil. The law is what makes us aware of sin. You see this idea also in Galatians 3:24 where it says, "Therefore the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." It is our tutor in that it teaches us our need for Christ and our sinfulness. It doesn't make us right with God, though the law is holy. It makes us aware of our need. It is faith that justifies.
The one who died also raised himself out of the grave and therefore we are joined to Him. In verse 4, it says why we were raised, "that we might bear fruit for God." We were created with a purpose. Not just to get a paycheck, but for the purpose of bearing fruit. Before this was impossible since the flesh cannot please God. But, now we are able, by his Spirit to bear fruit for Him. And this is important for us to realize. That everyday gives us opportunities, both big and small to be a witness to be used for His purposes.
The world tells us to chart our own course, to dream our own dreams, to go where we want. But, we need to remember that we were created for purposes greater than our own. In Colossians 1, it tells us that Jesus created all things out of nothing for His own purposes. It would be wrong for us not to consider, in our own world, at work and at play, what purpose and gifts we have from him that he might use for His own glory. I like how it says this in Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
