January 4
Married to Him
Romans 7:4-6 

 

  1. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
  2. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
  3. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Prior to these verses Paul is talking about a woman who is bound by the law to her husband as long as they are both alive.  But if he is dead, she is free to marry another man.  In the same way, you are dead to the law because of the sacrifice Jesus made in His death so now you are free to "marry" Him who is risen from the dead-Jesus Christ. 

You can't serve God through both the law and faith in Christ.  It's one or the other.  And it was already proven that mankind can't obey the law of God perfectly.  But Jesus did!  And by God's grace you are free from the law because Jesus died and rose again as your sacrifice.  You are dead to your sin because of Him.  Now you can join yourself to Him.  Now you can serve God in newness of spirit and not in oldness of letter.

Your relationship with God now is not based on the letter of the law.  It’s like a marriage or love relationship.  You choose to bind yourself to Him and serve Him in a grateful response to His great love for you.

 

Confession:

I respond to God’s love for me by choosing to join with Him.  Because of our love relationship I serve Him in newness of spirit and bring forth godly fruit.

Obedience is a tree of life!