When a man and a woman marry, the law that binds their marriage together is in place as long as the two are alive. But if one of the spouses dies, the law of marriage no longer applies. That means they can remarry without being guilty of adultery. It frees the surviving spouse from the law. In the same way, when we are united with Jesus Christ, we die to the law, just as Jesus himself died. Because we died with Christ, we no longer belong to the law. We belong to Christ himself, who was raised from the dead. In this way, we can bear fruit for God. What kind of fruit do we bear? The fruit of faith in Jesus, who died so that we ourselves would die to sin.

What, then, about the law? If the law just arouses our sinful passions, does that mean the law is sinful? Not at all! Actually, the law is holy, righteous, and good! Paul explains that before the law said that coveting was sinful, he didn't think much about it. But as soon as the law declared coveting a sin, his sinful nature went to work and produced all kinds of covetous desires in him. So, the very law that was meant to save him brought about sinful desires and thus death. The law, then, makes our sin known, and then we know we need the gospel.


Application: Father, thank you for the gospel which put to death my sin, that I may live a new life, bearing fruit to you.
One Word: Died to the law, living for Christ