Freed to be joined to Jesus

In Rom. 7:2-3, Paul continued explaining how believers are released from the Law and therefore free to live with Jesus. He wrote, “For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.” In verses 2-3, Paul provided an example illustrating how it is possible that the Law no longer has jurisdiction over them. They all would understand that the Law binds a woman to her husband as long as he is alive. As long as her husband lives, the Law has jurisdiction over her. However, if her husband dies, the Law has no authority over her life in regards to her relationship with her husband or any other single man, for that matter. She is released from her responsibilities to her husband according to the Law through the death of the spouse. Being released from the responsibilities of the Law was an important reality for Paul and should be for all believers. Paul had already made it perfectly clear in chapter 3 that no man can be justified by the works of the Law (3:10-20).  It is impossible for anyone to fulfill what the Law requires because all have fallen short of the Law’s standards of righteousness (3:21). In chapter 6, perhaps you remember Paul reminded the Romans that they were “not under Law.” In the first verses of chapter 7 Paul explained how it was that they were not under Law. There’s been the death of one of the two parties who were in a covenant of Law. He used the illustration of the husband’s death, but he could have used either party in his example.  Today, we may rejoice in the great truth that we are no longer under the Law, but under grace. Therefore, we have been set free from the covenant that says, “If you keep the Law, you live. If you break that Law, you die.” All who believe in Jesus have been released from the Law’s requirements through Jesus Christ, which Paul will explain later. This frees us to live to love with Jesus without guilt or condemnation. Hallelujah! We can serve Jesus today with a clear conscience and love as Paul testified is possible in 1 Tim. 1:5. “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere  faith.” So let me encourage you to fervently, freely, joyfully love today as Jesus does.  Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com