The consequences of the change of husbands.
In chapter seven, the first four verses, Paul clarified his assertion that humankind is not under the law. It is not under the Law’s dominion because the sinful life of humankind died in the body of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha. Only eternal death could dissolve the marriage to the Moral Law. The new humankind God created in Jesus Christ could not marry Jesus while still married to the Law. The law forbids women to marry two husbands. Such a marriage is adultery, according to the law. Could not a sinner repent, give up his sinful ways, and thus fulfill the law’s requirements, some may ask? Paul answers that the law and command inspire sin to exercise control over the sinful flesh.
“For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.” Romans 7:5, NET. Paul, in this verse, refers to humankind before it died in the body of Jesus on the cross. He maintains that the sinful human spirit is always inclined to do the wrong that the law forbids. A sinful human being would not know the wrong unless a command reminded him about the wrong. Commands arouse an inclination in the mind of a sinner to sin. This is not so because the Law is defective, but because the sin seizes an opportunity to incite a sinner to violate a command. The sinful spirit considers a violation of a command a virtuous action and his duty. The sinful human spirit could not do otherwise because it is under the Law’s dominion. The Law reminds a sinner that he is a slave to sin irrevocably. Therefore, the death of the sinful human spirit was the only solution.
“But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new lite of the Spirit and not under the old written code.” Romans 7:6, NET. Paul asserts that we have also died to sin by dying to the law. Yielded believer still has a sinful biological nature inclined to violation of the law. However, a newborn believer has the Holy Spirit who dwells in him. When a sinner surrenders to the control of the Holy Spirit, the sinful desires of the flesh are under control. Accordingly, a newborn believer does not have the urge to violate a command.
Nevertheless, a yielded believer will sin against the law unintentionally. The new human spirit we have through Jesus Christ knows the difference between right and wrong. He does the right thing because it is the right thing to do.
Two masters but one slave. Read the next blog.
