Slavery. Marriage. The Gospel.

Reading the book of Romans is always an interesting activity. It seems as though every time I read it God reveals more truth to me, tis why it's my favorite book I suppose. :)

When reading Romans 6 specifically one thing is certain. Paul is concerned with slavery. Not a normal type of slavery, but slavery to sin. It didn't start here certainly. From the first chapter until now he has dealt greatly with this matter (Romans 1:17-32; 3:10-20). In verse 14 of chapter six he really begins what I want to hit on.

Romans 6:14-16

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

I believe my point that, before and apart from Christ we are slaves to sin.

Paul, and I, are about to change the way we explain this.

According to God's Word, the wife is the servant or helper of her husband (I AM NOT CALLING WOMEN SLAVES). In this time though, women were much indeed like slaves. They were physically bound to their husbands by law. They didn't have a choice, really.

But.

I love but, it means the story is shifting. In this case, from bad to good.

Paul opens chapter 7 with theses words:

"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? For the woman which hath a 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." verses 1-2

So, though it is no excuse, without Christ, we really don't have control. We are slaves to sin. We might grumble, complain and not like certain things, much like a physical slave would, but we lack real power to change anything.

UNTIL.

Back in chapter 6 verse 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.

Hallelujah.

Christ came and died, and with Him the sins of mankind. Because of that we are free from the law and sin and death and allowed to marry another (verse 3 of ch 7).

And as verse 4 says:

"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."

We are not bound to sin anymore.

If you're old man has died, don't remain married to him. Be faithful to Christ, by Grace through faith.

I pray for ears to hear.

I love you.