Dead to the Law

This sixteenth message from Romans used an illustration and explanation to show how believers have died to the law. These Roman believers were not ignorant concerning the AUTHORITY of the law - they knew that its jurisdiction ended at death. To clarify, Paul used the illustration of marriage, revealing the married woman's legal commitment. The wife is bound by law to her husband while he is living, and becomes an adulteress if she marries another; but a widow is released from the law when her husband dies, and is free to marry another without becoming an adulteress. Paul then makes APPLICATION of this principle by explaining that believers have also died to the Law. Their separation took place through the body of Christ - they were raised to new life, that they might demonstrate new conduct. Their lifelong service to the flesh died when their old life to the Law was rendered inoperative (annulled); but their eternal service to their new Master came to life when their new life was now of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.