The Apostle Paul shows here a contradiction, a kind of spiritual schizophrenia, which is caused by original sin in us. The law of God is holy but every one of us is subject to carnality and mentality, and both the body and soul are influenced by the law of sin. Our spirit thirsts for God but is bound and imprisoned by our corrupt nature. Everyone can see by experience that the law of sin is at work in us. This is proved by the fact that we want to do good and we love good but we do evil which we hate and do not want to do. There is a law of sin here. Law is a principle which repeats itself; it is not something that happens just once. The law of sin is at work while we live this life in time. This is what we must reckon with and what the Word of God tells us about. Therefore we need to walk by faith. For there is not only the law of sin but also the law of the Spirit – which will be mentioned in the next verses – and the latter is at work if in concrete situations we unite ourselves to our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The Word of God says that when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions were at work in our members. The law did not give the strength to overcome them; on the contrary, by bringing them to light it made our conscience see every detail of sin, and the conscience was bound. Let us emphasize: the law did not give us the strength to overcome the sinful passions in proportion to our understanding. The law only convicted us of what is deep within us, namely the source of lies and evil connected with pride and sinful passions and bearing fruit to death.

Concerning verse six, someone may misunderstand it and draw the wrong conclusion, for it is written there: “…we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by…” But it does not mean that freedom is deliverance from the law. The true meaning is expressed in the next words: “…so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” True freedom is only in Christ!

If we reject Jesus as our Saviour and as the One who delivers us from the power of sin, sinful passions are at work in our members which are aroused rather than overcome by the law. Thus, the law is ineffective in the struggle against passions. It truly calls evil evil and a lie a lie, it also warns of punishment, but it gives no strength. The passions, which are produced by sin in us, bear fruit to death.

Next, the Scripture says that if we have died to what we were held by, we have been delivered through this death from the law. It does not mean physical death but our inner union with Christ’s death on the cross by being crucified with Him and by putting into practice the essence of baptism, which is our immersion in Christ’s death. In this inner death, i.e. in this union with Christ crucified who dying conquered death, is the fulfilment of the demands of the law. We are unable to fulfil them by ourselves. Union with Christ’s death makes us able to serve God, i.e. commit ourselves wholly to God, in the newness of life. The Spirit of God, who participated in the resurrection of Christ, then works in us, so that this new life in us may grow.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another – to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.”

In the previous verses 1-3, we find a picture of a wife and two husbands. The first husband represents the law of God, which is just and perfect. The other husband represents Christ. So long as the woman is joined to the first husband, there are always demands made on her, but the perfect husband, the law, never lifts a little finger to help her carry them out. She desires to marry the other husband, but she cannot be freed from the first one. And because he refuses to die, the only way out for her is to die herself. This death is the mystery of baptism through which we were immersed into the death of Christ and share in the new life of Christ. This picture shows the deep reality that Jesus not only died on the cross for us, but if we have spiritually entered into His death through baptism and faith, it means that we have been made free from the law of sin, and thus from the just law as well.

So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

Interpretation for Rom 7:1-2 and Rom 7:3

Christ the End of the Law

In Romans 6 we saw how God delivered us from sin; in Romans 7 we see how He delivers us from the Law. In chapter 6 we were shown the way of deliverance from sin in the picture of a master and his slave; in chapter 7 we are shown the way of deliverance from the Law in the picture of two husbands and a wife. The relation between sin and the sinner is that of master to slave; the relation between the Law and the sinner is that of husband to wife.

Or do you not know, brethren, that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband

Interpretation for Rom 7:1-2 and Rom 7:3

Christ the End of the Law

In Romans 6 we saw how God delivered us from sin; in Romans 7 we see how He delivers us from the Law. In chapter 6 we were shown the way of deliverance from sin in the picture of a master and his slave; in chapter 7 we are shown the way of deliverance from the Law in the picture of two husbands and a wife. The relation between sin and the sinner is that of master to slave; the relation between the Law and the sinner is that of husband to wife.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Let us imagine God’s judgment, demons stand on the left, angels on the right and all mankind behind us. In front of us there is a big screen, and we who are judged stand under the screen. All our life is shown on the screen. At the end, a large inscription appears on the screen: “The wages of sin is death – eternal death – eternal hell.” This is righteous judgment of sin which is rebellion against God and obedience to the devil. The seed of the devil in us, which is original sin, forces us to obey evil, the devil, and to revolt against God. The root of sin in us bears poisoned fruits which are harmful both to us and others and set us against God. The verdict is final – death. We need to be aware of it. That’s the reality. There is only one way out – only in time; on the day of God’s judgment there will be no more chance of salvation, for the time of test and trial, which is our life, will have ended. Therefore we have to know and bear in mind that the solution – salvation from eternal death – is only in Jesus who is the Son of God and became man just for our sake, to deliver us from sin.

“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

The condition for being set free from sin is to become slaves of God. Chapter six of the Epistle to the Romans very often uses the term “slave”. On the one hand, there is a reality of slavery to sin. Even if we want to get out of this slavery by our own efforts, we cannot. We can be set free from this kind of slavery neither by our own efforts nor by any other means but only by the power of God, and we receive this power under one condition – that we give ourselves wholly to God. It means that we accept His commandments and are guided by the Spirit of God, and no longer by the spirit of the world, the spirit of lies. This freedom, however, has one basic condition – we must lose our soul for Christ’s sake and the Gospel’s (Mk 8:35).

“I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”

This verse expresses again what this chapter has already said before, namely that we should not present our members as slaves of uncleanness, or of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness. On the contrary, we should now put our members fully at the disposal, i.e. present them as slaves, of righteousness for holiness. The Apostle indicates here that sin particularly exploits uncleanness and lawlessness. Therefore we have to stand firmly on the side of righteousness. There are as it were two banners here – the banner of slavery to evil against the banner of true freedom. In this battle, we have to learn the art of fighting. Above all, we should avoid the near occasion of sin, which is a sign of true humility and wisdom. If it is not possible, and we have done the best in our power, God will show us a way out.

Thanks be to God that, being converted, we were given the grace to receive the salvific teaching based on the faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We have been delivered by Him from enslavement caused by sin, and we have taken the new path of righteousness.

Chapter six speaks about sin many times. It says: “…though you used to be slaves (Gr. duloi) to sin…”. Today we can see clearly what it is like to be a slave to sin. Sin in the heart of man hates above all truth and true self-criticism, so its essence is pride. It means lack of self-criticism, unwillingness to admit the truth, unwillingness to learn from our own mistake and, on the contrary, an attempt to throw the blame on others or on God, or on so-called circumstances.

Sin includes murder, seeking help from the devil in witchcraft or other occult practices; sin also includes fraud, theft, abuse, rape, unclean thoughts, words or deeds, all kinds of perversion, divorce, hatred, war. What is the fruit of sin? Suffering, tears, loneliness, prison, death. People become slaves to drugs or alcohol, they become homeless or criminals. The reality of sin cannot be denied.

“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

This verse from the Scripture reveals a deep truth about obedience the fruit of which is eternal life in heaven or eternal death in hell.

Apart from the word obedience, this verse also emphasizes the word slave (Gr. dúlos). According to the Greek original, the verse should actually read as follows: Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey? You are either slaves of sin, which leads to death, or you obey God, which leads to justification from sin and to life.

If we do not serve God wholeheartedly, we are not free but we are slaves of original sin which is in us. We automatically obey original sin, i.e. the source of lies and evil in our heart. Original sin clouds our mind and weakens our will so that we hate the truth about ourselves, reject the true good and refuse to serve God and keep His commandments.

“And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

What verse precedes it? “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.”

And what verse follows verse 13? “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Chapter six of the Epistle to the Romans expresses a deep truth of our deliverance from sin. Verses 3 and 4 speak about baptism through which we have been immersed in the mystery of Christ’s death, and at the same time have received a new life: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Verse 6 points out the spiritual reality that the root of evil in us – original sin – the old self – was crucified with Christ. In verse 11, we are told to accept by faith the reality of spiritual death as well as the reality of new life: “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It calls for a faith which is connected with spiritual struggle.

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This verse from chapter six of the Epistle to the Romans again is a mystery. The condition for its revelation is a living faith and walking by faith, in other words putting the truth of faith into practice. A deep biblical faith, which is the foundation of true knowledge, is expressed in the word “reckon” – the Greek word is “logidzomai” which means: 1) take into account, keep in mind, count (up), 2) have an opinion, think, believe, 3) consider, look on as, regard as.

In mathematics, this word is used for an absolutely exact expression: 2×2=4, and this holds true in America, Africa and everywhere. It is something indubitable. And the Scripture tells us that our faith must be like this – without the least doubt – we are dead to sin, to the power of sin! At the same time, we are alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord!

“For he who has died has been justified from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.”

What is the meaning of the words “he who has died has been justified (freed) from sin”? In this context, it does not mean dying physically but dying spiritually to the power of sin which dominates man. Therefore it is said that such man has been freed from sin. The Greek word “dikaiosiné” (justification), which is used here, means – in biblical terms 1) the fulfilment of the will of God, of everything that God requires, 2) justification from sin, 3) justification of man by God, reconciliation between man and God.

Ad 1) God requires that through faith and obedience to God’s commandments we should fulfil the will of God.

Ad 2) If we are united to Jesus by faith and keep God’s commandments, we are free from sin.

Ad 3) Justification – dikaiosiné – leads to freedom and to the fulfilment of God’s will, but it also means justification of man from his sins and reconciliation with God.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,

Concerning those who were baptized, it is written here as a matter of course that “you were raised with Christ”. Who understands it and who lives it? What does it mean? Again, it is a mystery of faith, a deep truth into which the Holy Spirit guides the little ones, i.e. the humble ones.

Christ was raised only once on Sunday after Good Friday when he had been crucified. What plays an important role here is a mystery of faith given us by God, as well as a promise related to it. Faith grows into union with Jesus, into spiritual communion, and then into agape, the love of God which has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom 5:5).

“For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”

The first five chapters of the Epistle to the Romans speak of sins. Chapter six speaks about sin in singular, which means the root from which other sins develop. The root of sin is the source of evil in us, i.e. original sin or corrupt human nature which was infected by the serpent, the devil, in the first people in Paradise. Instead of abiding faithfully in God’s Word in time of trial, they rejected it and believed in the words of the devil, in a lie. The seed of the devil was thus sown into human nature. This seed is original sin which programmes man for gradual entropy, moral and spiritual self-destruction, and leads him to eternal damnation. We can see striking examples at the present time, when mankind seems to be deprived of common sense and is committing mass suicide: gender demoralization connected with the stealing of children from their parents; technologies of fratricidal wars; harmful vaccines for children causing damage to the immune system and fertility; genetically modified food; remedies causing other diseases; the spread of cancer; AIDS; destructive culture resulting in systematic amoralization; lack of responsibility; the increase in crime; drug addiction.