Dead to the Law

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.
Romans 7:4 (KJV)

I just love it when the Holy Spirit gives me fresh understanding of scripture. This is one that has had me puzzled for a while, but now that it has been shown to me I feel foolish for having missed its simplicity. As always,  God's truths are simple, yet profound.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Romans 6:7 (KJV)

When we become born again the 'old man' is rendered dead to the law. What does that mean? Exactly what it says! What happens in court if someone charged with a crime has died? All charges are dropped and the case is closed, the defendant is dead and therefore cannot be convicted of their transgressions of the law.
Looking at the opening verse again we see we are compared to Jesus who was 'raised from the dead'. So I ask you, are we not also raised from the dead spiritually on the day we are 'born again' by choosing to follow Christ? But it is a new man that is raised up, not the old.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

This idea of us becoming a 'new creature in Christ' is also lent support by the way Christ gave Simon the new name of Peter and Saul became Paul. In addition Revelation 2:17 tells us that those who overcome will be given a new name written on a white stone. This new creature we have become is no longer subject to the law written on stone tablets, but has had the new covenant written in His heart (2 Corinthians 3:3 KJV).

What does that mean? Simply that we no longer need Mosaic Law (Torah) to show us what sin is because the presence of the Holy Spirit in us convicts us of sin directly.

“I'm Not Really Dead!”

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:36 (KJV)

But how free are we really from sin? Temptation is all around us in these last days and our flesh aches for carnal things. It doesn't want the new wine, the old wine was better (Luke 5:39 KJV). Well we are as free as we want to be.

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:2 (KJV)

We are dead to sin, yet are we not haunted by that dead man we once were whenever we are tempted to sin? Indeed, as long as we inhabit these mortal bodies sin will be a daily struggle.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 6:11-12 (KJV)

So we are as dead to sin as we want to be. How? By faith. I cannot resist comparing it to a certain scene in the movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”.

CART MASTER: Bring out your dead!
CUSTOMER: Here's one.
CART MASTER: Nine pence.
DEAD PERSON: I'm not dead!
CART MASTER: What?
CUSTOMER: Nothing. Here's your nine pence.
DEAD PERSON: I'm not dead!
CART MASTER: 'Ere. He says he's not dead!
CUSTOMER: Yes, he is.
DEAD PERSON: I'm not!
CART MASTER: He isn't?
CUSTOMER: Well, he will be soon. He's very ill.
DEAD PERSON: I'm getting better!
CUSTOMER: No, you're not. You'll be stone dead in a moment.
"Monty Python & the Holy Grail"

If we are to reckon our 'old man' dead it will be over his strenuous objections. You see, something I have learned about the type of faith we must have as Christians is that it need not be based in what we consider to be reality. That is something you will rarely hear preached from any pulpit.

And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
Luke 8:52-53 (KJV)

The reality was that the damsel was dead, but that didn't seem to bother Christ, did it? To me this is the best part of being a Christian, because I get to see God doing what He does best, defying our so called 'reality'. Do you have loved ones seemingly headed to Hell? Keep praying! Are you sick in your body? God's Word says let the weak say “I am strong!” We don't have to accept our circumstances, our God is able to change them in the blink of an eye!

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Matthew 9:29 (KJV)

When we merge the above verse with the idea that we are as dead to sin as we want to be, we can see that in fact we are as dead to sin as our faith allows us to be. If we reckon that old man dead it is by faith, and our works will bear witness to that faith. Works? Yes, works. Contrary to what the Laodicean churches teach our faith is demonstrated by our works and is counted as righteousness. Read Hebrews 11 and pay close attention to the connection between faith and works.

If we reckon that old man dead then why do we keep feeding him? If we are dead to the law and to sin we must by faith act like it in order to make it happen.