Dead to the Law
Date: May 12, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse: Romans 7:4 (NIV) "So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God."
L - Listen for God's Word and pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for the freedom we have in Christ. Help us to understand the depth of what it means to die to the law and belong to You. Open our hearts and minds to receive Your truth and guidance as we study this verse. May we bear fruit for Your glory. Amen.
E - Explore the History and Meaning: The book of Romans, written by the Apostle Paul, addresses the struggle between the law and grace. In this verse, Paul reminds believers that through Christ's death on the cross, we have died to the law. Our old self, bound by the requirements of the law, has been crucified with Christ, and we have been raised with Him to a new life. As a result, we now belong to Christ and have the privilege of bearing fruit for God.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases:
Died to the law: Through Christ's sacrifice, we are released from the condemnation and burden of trying to meet the requirements of the law.
Belong to another: We are now in a new covenant with Christ, being united with Him and belonging to Him.
Bear fruit for God: Our transformed lives, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are called to produce good works and bring glory to God.
S - Summarize and Share:
Romans 7:4 speaks to my heart in a deep way, and I believe it has a powerful message for us today. When I read these words from the Apostle Paul, I am reminded of the freedom and grace we have received through Christ's sacrifice.
It is so easy to fall into the trap of trying to earn our righteousness through our own efforts. We might find ourselves trying to meet the expectations of other people in our lives or following a checklist of religious practices that we believe we need to follow. But Romans 7:4 reminds us that we have died to the law through Christ's body. Our salvation does not come from our works, but from our union with Him.
We so often face pressure to conform to standards of society or meet the demands of a performance-driven culture. But as believers, we have been set free from those expectations. We now belong to Christ, who was raised from the dead, and our lives are no longer defined by a long list of rules but by a personal relationship with Him.
So, what does it mean for us in practical terms? It means that we can let go of the burden of striving for perfection and trying to earn God's love. Instead, we can rest in the assurance that our acceptance and righteousness come from our identity in Christ. We are called to live in the freedom of His grace and allow His transformative power to work in and through us.
Knowing this should impact how we relate to others, how we make decisions, and pursue our purpose. We are called to bear fruit for God, to live lives that reflect His love, grace, and truth. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, to use the fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Let’s embrace this scripture today and walk confidently in the freedom we have in Christ. Release the burden of trying to earn our righteousness and instead surrender to His transforming work in our lives. When we do that, we can bear fruit that impacts the world around us and brings glory to God.
I want you to take a moment to think about how this verse speaks to your own life. Have you ever found yourself working really hard to meet certain expectations or trying to be perfect all on your own? Are you seeking validation from the world rather than finding your identity in Christ? Let go of your burdens and find rest in God’s grace.
Think of this message today as a gentle nudge to release the weight of your struggles and challenges and instead, trust in God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Find peace knowing that we don’t have to strive or work tirelessly to earn God’s favor, we can simply surrender to His loving care and find rest in His grace.
Bible Cross References:
Galatians 2:19-20: "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
John 15:4-5: "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Colossians 1:10: "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."