1. We died to the law; we belong to Christ (1-6)

Marriage binds spouses together. Death dissolves that union. The law is a most demanding spouse whom we can never please perfectly. By believing in Jesus, we enter into a new union with Christ, dying to the law and serving God in the new way of the Spirit (8:3-4). This union bears good fruit for God.

2. The law is holy and good (7-13)

There's nothing wrong with the law. Rather, it is holy, righteous and good. The problem is sin in us. The law tells us what is holy, good and right. But we have no power to keep it. The law, "do not covet" is good, but it exposes our covetous heart. The law convicts us as sinners, because we all break it. The law makes our sin known. To accept the gospel, we must first see our sin and our powerlessness.