Romans 7:1-4, Bring Forth Fruit Unto God

Romans 7:1-4 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 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.

The Apostle Paul illustrates the new relationship the born-again believer has with Christ to be like the termination of a marriage covenant at the death of the spouse where the surviving spouse is discharged from the marriage contract. This freedom is likened to the freedom from the condemnation of God’s law. He is “dead to the law by the body of Christ” in that Christ bore his sins when He was crucified on the cross. Christ’s death freed the believer, discharged him, from the judgment by the law for his sins.

This new relationship he has with the law of God is fulfilled through Christ. He is now married, as it were, to Christ. Christ gives him the strength to love and fulfill God’s law. And all that he does in Christ bears fruit unto God. He will be rewarded, as he abides in Christ, depending upon Him to do the law of God. He brings forth fruit unto God.

Jesus explains this in  Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. And in John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

May the Lord help you to bear fruit unto God to the honour and glory of His name. Amen.