Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the King James Version ( KJV ). Romans 7:1-6 read as follows:
"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. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
The phrase "dead to the law by the body of Christ," in verse four ( above ), has a cross-reference to Galatians 2:19: verses nineteen and twenty read as follows: "19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
The phrase "crucified with Christ," in verse twenty ( above ), has a cross-reference to Romans 6:6, which reads as follows: "6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Verses three and four of this chapter read as follows: "3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Since one is baptized into Jesus Christ's death, and He died on the cross of Calvary ( see Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33, for example ), for example ), the phrase "crucified with Christ" is a reference to being baptized into Jesus Christ.
The phrase "dead to the law by the body of Christ" must therefore mean that when one is baptized into Jesus Christ, he or she becomes dead to the law. Which law is this? The phrase "in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter," in the first verse six ( above ), has a cross-reference to ( 2:29 ), which reads as follows: "29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."
Circumcision is mentioned as a covenant between the LORD and Abram ( see Genesis, chapter 17 ( especially verses 1, 2, 5, 9, and 10, for example ), for example ). Since the book of Genesis is part of the law of Moses ( the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy ), one becomes dead to the law of Moses when he or she is baptized into Jesus Christ ( see Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ); 10:43; and Romans 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), for example ). Since the second verse four ( above ) makes reference to Christ being raised up from the dead, it is to Him Whom we are married when we are baptized into Him ( as is indicated in the first verse four, above ).
Therefore, every Christian ( see Acts 11:26 and Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ) is a spiritual wife of Christ. In this context, Jesus Christ has many wives. King Solomon had "seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines" ( see 1 Kings 11:3 and please read verses one through three to get the immediate context ) and, thus, he was a type of Christ in this regard.
However, since Jesus ( see John 8:28 ) always does those things that please the Father ( see verse twenty-nine, for example ), His spiritual wives will never turn away His heart after other gods ( cf. 1 Kings 11:4, for example ): He is without sin ( see Hebrews 4:15, for example ). Finally, since Christians are Christ's servants ( see Leviticus 25:44, 45; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:22, 23; 9:21; Ephesians 1:1-7 ( especially verse 7, for example ); Colossians 1:9-23 ( especially verse 20, for example ); and Revelation 1:5, for example ), all of Jesus' spiritual wives are His servants. The relationship of the wife as the servant of her husband is beautifully portrayed here.
In the context of the physical marriage relationship, the heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ) has determined from the beginning that it involve one man and one woman, for life ( see Genesis 2:18-24 ( especially verses 23 and 24, for example ); Ecclesiastes 9:9; and Romans 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), for example ). Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151; John 17:1, 3, and 17; and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ). If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
