Why did the Holy Spirit give Paul the marriage picture in Romans 7:4?
The Holy Spirit gave Paul the marriage picture in Romans 7:4 for our doctrinal understanding. It illustrates that just as marriage's primary purpose is fruit—children—so God unites Himself to members of Christ's Body to be fruitful and bring forth spiritual children.
Les explains that the connection may not be quite as clear cut, but he feels the Holy Spirit gave Paul this particular picture again for our own doctrinal understanding in Romans 7:4. He quotes Romans 7:4, where believers become dead to the law by the Body of Christ and are married to another, even Him who is raised from the dead, that they should bring forth fruit unto God. Les then asks what the primary purpose of God bringing man and woman together in a marital relationship is—fruit, children. In the same way, the primary purpose of God uniting Himself to us as members of the Body of Christ, claiming us as His own, is to be fruitful and to bring forth spiritual children.
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.
More Questions
How does Paul use the marriage illustration to explain being held to the law?
Paul's illustration of husband and wife in Romans 7 is that, just as a husband and wife are held together by the law of the land and cannot operate or function without that law being part and parcel, so the law binds a person until death.
What does the law of the land stipulate for a married couple in Romans 7?
The civil law of marriage in Paul's illustration was still more than a joining of two people: it stipulated how the couple had to handle their community property and wealth while the marriage lasted.
What does Romans 7:4 say about being dead to the law and married to another?
In Romans 7:4 believers are become dead to the law by the Body of Christ so that they should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that they should bring forth fruit unto God.