Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

⁴  Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

⁵  For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

⁶  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:1-6.

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“…  For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.  But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.   …  Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”  Galatians 3:21-25.

It is hard for us to leave the Law.  We tend to cling to it to obtain righteousness.  In our deepest thoughts, we tend to trust the Law more than we trust Christ.

So, Paul, recognizes this tendency and compares the Law with Christ.  Paul first emphatically lists his accomplishments according to the Law summing it up:  “… as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”  Paul then concludes:  “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,  and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,”  Philippians 3:6-9. 

The next Scripture, which is subject to tomorrow devotion, God willing, explains how the Law arouses our sinful passions to bear fruit for death.  And, this Law is not just obscure Jewish customs or rituals, but this Law, that arouses our sinful passions to bear fruit for death, includes the Ten Commandments.  If you want to jump ahead, read Romans 7:7-11.   

But, even though we read this Scripture, it is as if our minds gloss over and do not allow let this truth (of how the Law arouses our sinful passions to bear fruit for death) to sink into our beliefs.  We still want to grab that yardstick of the Law and measure ourselves to prove our own righteousness according to the Law, rather than trust God for that “righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith”.  

We are like the Galatians who Paul admonishes.  “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?  This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:1-5.  

But, there is hope!

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.  For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:4-6.