Read & explore together
Release from the Law
This passage explains a change in relationship to the law. Using marriage as an illustration, the writer says the law rules during life, then teaches that believers were made dead to the law through the body of Christ.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
The passage addresses people who know the law and begins with a legal principle about its authority over a living person. It then uses marriage to show how death changes that bond, before speaking of being made dead to the law, belonging to the risen one, and serving in a new way.
Romans 7:1–6Main takeaway
Because believers were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, they are released to belong to the risen Christ and serve in newness of the spirit.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The law has authority during lifeThe passage opens with a principle for people who know the law: the law has dominion over a person for as long as he lives.
Explanation
The passage opens with a principle for people who know the law: the law has dominion over a person for as long as he lives. That statement gives the basis for everything that follows. The key idea is that death changes the legal claim that was in force during life.
02Marriage shows how release worksThe illustration is a married woman. While her husband lives, she is bound by law to him. If she is joined to another man during her husband’s life, she would be called an adulteress.
Explanation
The illustration is a married woman. While her husband lives, she is bound by law to him. If she is joined to another man during her husband’s life, she would be called an adulteress. If her husband dies, she is discharged from that law and is free from that charge.
03Believers were made dead to the lawThe teaching then turns directly to the readers: they also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ.
Explanation
The teaching then turns directly to the readers: they also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ. This change has a purpose. They are joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, and the result aimed at is that they might produce fruit to God.
04An old condition and a new serviceThe passage contrasts two conditions. In the former one, sinful passions worked in human members to bring out fruit to death.
Explanation
The passage contrasts two conditions. In the former one, sinful passions worked in human members to bring out fruit to death. Now there is discharge from the law, because of having died to that in which they were held. The result is service in newness of the spirit, not oldness of the letter.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What basic rule about the law is stated before the marriage illustration begins?
Look for the statement about how long the law has dominion over a person.
02How does the marriage illustration show a change in legal relationship?
Trace the difference between being bound while the husband lives and being discharged when he dies.
03According to the passage, what are believers released for after being made dead to the law?
Notice the purposes named: being joined to the one raised from the dead, producing fruit to God, and serving in newness of the spirit.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 7:1–6
1Or don’t you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?
2For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband.
3So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man.
4Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God.
5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law worked in our members to bring out fruit to death.
6But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.