Paul teaches that believers in Christ are dead to the Mosaic law through the body of Christ and are joined to the resurrected Christ.
Using a marriage illustration, Paul shows that death releases a wife from the law that bound her to her husband. In Romans 7:4, he says believers likewise 'are become dead to the law by the body of Christ,' referring to the Mosaic system. This frees them to be 'married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.'
Romans 7:4 — This is the key verse where Paul directly states that believers are dead to the law by the body of Christ.
Romans 8:2 — Paul declares that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ frees believers from the law of sin and death, which Les identifies as the Mosaic system.
The key verse is Romans 7:4: '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.' This is the direct statement: believers are dead to the law and are joined to another, the resurrected Christ. Romans 8:2 declares, 'For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.' Romans 8:3 continues, 'For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.' 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, 'And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.' Colossians 2:13 tells believers, 'And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.'
Les Feldick teaches that Romans 7 uses a marriage illustration to explain the believer's relationship to the Mosaic law. The law of the land binds a wife to her husband only while he lives; when he dies, she is loosed. In like manner, the believer has become dead to the Mosaic law by the body of Christ (Romans 7:4). Les states plainly, 'We're dead to that. It no longer has any power over us.' He then applies the same verse: the believer isn't simply dead and forgotten; he is 'married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.' This union begins on earth as we become members of the Body of Christ. Les further explains that by the work of the cross, believers are 'under grace, and not under the law.' The Mosaic system is the 'law of sin and death' in Romans 8:2, and it was 'weak through the flesh,' so God sent His Son. Les says the whole system of Law was done away and abolished at the cross, and that Paul's gospel never mentions keeping the Law, yet 'grace is not license.' Believers are not under the Law as Christ ministered to Israel; they are under grace.
In Romans 7, Paul draws on the law of the land that governs marriage. Les explains that whether in Israel or America, a legally married woman is bound by that law to her husband until divorce or death. The law decides what they can and cannot do with community property and other obligations. When the husband dies, the wife is loosed from the law of her husband. Paul then applies this: just as death ends the wife's obligation to the marriage law, the body of Christ, in which He died, ends the believer's obligation to the Mosaic law. The believer is therefore free to be joined to Christ.
Les identifies the 'law of sin and death' in Romans 8:2 as the Mosaic system. He says the law was weak through the flesh, and God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. The law was 'weak, beggarly' from man's standpoint. The Scripture shows that the law could not accomplish what God accomplished through the death of His Son.
No. Les insists that Paul's writings constantly place before believers the death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection of Christ, 'not a word about keeping the Law.' But he adds emphatically, 'grace is not license.' Being dead to the law does not mean freedom to sin; it means freedom to live unto the One who died and rose again, and to bring forth fruit to God.
The Marriage Law Illustration
Paul uses the law of the land to show that a wife is bound to her husband only while he lives; death releases her, which becomes the template for the believer's freedom from the Mosaic law.
Dead to the Mosaic System
Les identifies the law in Romans 7:4 as the law of Moses and says the believer is dead to it; it no longer has any power over us.
Under Grace, United with Christ
By the work of the cross, believers are under grace and not the law; they are dead to the law by the body of Christ and married to the resurrected Christ.
Married to Bear Fruit
The believer's freedom from the law is not an end in itself; it leads to being joined to the risen Christ and bearing fruit to God, beginning in this life.
Grace Is Not License
Paul's gospel centers on Christ's death and resurrection with no mention of keeping the Law; still, grace never gives license to sin.
The Law Weak Through the Flesh
Les identifies the law of sin and death as the Mosaic system and stresses the law's weakness, which God remedied by sending His Son.
Under Grace, Not Under the Law
Believers are not under the Law as Christ ministered to Israel; they are under grace, and Paul writes to believers of their forgiveness in Christ.
The Law Abolished at the Cross
Christ's finished work of death, burial, and resurrection abolished the whole system of Law and revealed salvation by faith through grace.
Romans 7:4: 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.
Paul directly states the believer's death to the law and subsequent union with the risen Christ.
Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Paul declares freedom from the law of sin and death, which Les identifies as the Mosaic system.
Romans 8:3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Paul explains that the law was weak through the flesh, and God accomplished what the law could not do through His Son.
2 Corinthians 5:15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Paul shows the gospel's focus on Christ's death and resurrection, not on keeping the Law.
Colossians 2:13: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Paul reminds believers they were dead in sins but have been made alive together with Christ, forgiven all trespasses.
Yes. Romans 7:4 says believers 'are become dead to the law by the body of Christ.' Les Feldick identifies that law as the Mosaic system, which no longer has any power over believers.
Paul uses the law of the land that binds a wife to her husband while he lives; when he dies, she is loosed from that law. Les says this illustrates how Christ's death releases believers from the Mosaic law so they can be joined to the risen Christ.
No. Les emphasizes that 'grace is not license.' Being released from the Mosaic law directs believers to live unto Christ, who died and rose again, and to bring forth fruit unto God.
Watch the Teaching: Dead to the Law, Married to Christ — What Romans 7 Really Means