Romans 6:14 we find the plain statement, "ye are not under law but under grace," is now explained by the universal understanding of the law of marriage. The verses following 6:14 up to 7:1, are a sort of parenthesis bringing us to the statement, which really means, "Or are you ignorant of this law-principle that rules us only as long as we live to sin?" When we died to sin, that bond, illustrated by the bonds of marriage broken at the death of a spouse, was no longer a law to us. The illustration used would be known world-wide in every culture. Death breaks a legal bond and concludes a relationship making a new relationship possible.
Now these Jewish Christians who in their past had been placed by God under the law given to Moses, publicly; they too have died, not just to the law-principle under which every person lives, but also to that law of Jewish ordinances and commands. The only fruit that keepers of the law could bring was fruit unto death because the law condemned everyone who could not keep it perfectly. Now, having died in Christ, Jewish believers were dead to that law (that spouse) and were joined by God's grace to the Lord Jesus Christ. Both Jewish and Gentile believers are not under law as a principle, but are under grace as an accomplished blessing that is theirs. We live by faith now, not by our efforts to please God. The Holy Spirit gives power within to live in good conscience to God by the new nature He has placed in us, not by keeping the old commandments. Every believer regardless of their background, is now called upon to live righteously and holy before God. This is not impossible because this is done through our identification with Christ, or "through the body of Christ." Now we are joined to Another, the One who in His body was made sin for us when He bore our sins in His own body on the tree. He has been raised from among the dead and we have risen in Him. Now the fruit of the Spirit is able to be produced and brought to God because of this new life.
In the past Jewish people were made very conscious of sin because of the standards of the law, and it condemned them to death. The restraints that were broken only brought death even after earnest struggles to keep those laws. But now that law is annulled, done away with, put out of business. No longer does it hold the one who was a "law-keeper." That person is able now to serve God from a whole new motivation. The demands that were so precise and challenging to keep, have given way to a spiritual motivation within that has love as its reason. Now service for God is done with the spirit of freedom and appreciation for what the God of grace has done. We live in the freedom of the grace of God. The illustration of husband and wife is that of the law-principle under which everyone in the world lives. The law Moses gave is seen in this passage as governing the relationship by its "picky" demands that made living tedious. In this new relationship with Christ, there is the glorious freedom of serving God out of love and appreciation that brings joy to the relationship.
It is not under pressure that we seek to please God, The motivation is much higher than that. There is a relationship that began when the Lord For us gave everything that He had To free us from that death-principle that had held Us in bondage and slavery to death. But now by God's grace we are freed to tell Of the new life with which we are blessed.
I never could live up to the standard of the law. Wherever I turned I was condemned. When by faith Christ dying for me, I saw That through His blood I am redeemed. More than that is the fact that in Him I have died, Now in Him I live a new life. A new relationship is formed, in Him I abide, And am called to walk with Him in the light.
Fruitless living under the past federal head, Produced nothing that could give God any glory. In the strength of the Spirit, to the Adam-life I'm dead, And living life for God is a whole new story. A Gentile by nature, there were law-principles to obey, But self-will brought only fruit that was useless. Now dead to that old life, I live my life today To God Himself, a life of potential fruitfulness.
I was never under the law God gave on Sinai's mount, My nationality was that of those outside those bounds. Even so, those laws condemned because I can't surmount The huge obstacles that that written code surround. There is no relief from guilt whether synagogue or church, The rules of life and law I still did break. God for me in richest grace for this sinner made a search, And through the Gospel message a new creation He did make.
Now I am not trying to meet an unreachable code, God's grace has provided a new man to please Him. I have found my rest in Christ and in Him my abode, Where there is fruitful freedom not under the dominion of sin. Released to walk with God in newness of life, I find this blessing a joy most profound. Not under the cloud of darkness and strife, In this place God's marvelous grace does abound.
"Father God, this example of the way a new relationship is formed when one comes to Christ for salvation, is easily understood. This new life is not one of tension and fear of failure, but of willingly and lovingly seeking to do Thy will. I truly want to do this. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."