Till Death Do Us Part

Romans 7:1-6

Introduction:

When a man and woman are bound together in Holy Matrimony, they vow to God and to each other a faithfulness to a union which can only be separated by death. As long as the two live, they are one in God’s eyes. Just as only death can release one from such a holy vow, Paul says death can free one from the power of the law. To the Christian, this is a death to sin which, having relenquished its power, gives way to the new union in Christ.

  I. Under Law For Life (v.1)

      A. Paul argues his point by appealing to the nature of law

      B. We are bound to laws

            1. Judicial law

            2. Natural law

            3. God’s law

      C. Paul’s subject is the Mosaic Law

      D. He illustrates this with the marriage law (different than Mosaic Law)

      E. To better understand this, let us examine God’s law for marriage

 II.  The Law of Marriage (vv.2,3)

      A. God established the law of marriage (Gen. 2:24)

      B. Freedom from this law comes only by death 1 Cor. 7:39

      C. There is only one reason for divorce

            1. Matt. 5:31,32

            2. Matt. 19:4-9

      D. This is not a freedom from the law, this is a violation of it the vow!

      E. To be unlawfully joined to one while under bondage to the other is adultery

      F. This principle applies to the bondage of law as well

            1. One cannot be bound to the Old Law and the Law of Grace

            2. One cannot serve sin and righteousness

            3. One cannot serve two masters Matt. 6:19-24

III. By Dying We Live

      A. Christ’s death/ressurection was the fulfillment of the Law

      B. Therefore, when Christ died the law died with Him

            1. Matt. 5:18 Jesus came to fulfill the Law

            2. Luke 24:44 Christ’s death/resurrection fulfilled the law

      C. We have died with Christ, to live a new life Rom. 6:1-4                   

      D. We are freed from our former master:

            1. To the Jew, the Law

            2. To the Gentile, Sin

      E. By this token, we are free to serve our new master

Conclusion: Death has parted us from sin, only death can part us from Christ

Michael E. Grooms