Preschool
Honour thy father and thy mother (Exodus 20:12).
Bound under the Law or Free?
Memory Verses
Primary
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee (Exodus 20:12).
Junior
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee (Exodus 20:12).
Background Scripture: Romans 7
Lesson Scripture: Romans: 7:1-13, 24-25
Introduction
“This is the real function and end of law: To reveal unto us the will of God, to discover sin unto us, to threaten with the wrath and punishment of the Lord, to announce death and to point us from it to Christ, so that we, crushed in spirit, may before the eyes of God die unto sin, and seek and find the only and eternal medicine and remedy for our souls, Jesus Christ.” ¹
The reality of the law is that it can never be fully satisfied by man. True freedom is found only through saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Key Verse
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Gal. 5:1).
Lesson Scripture
Romans 7:1 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.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Studying the Lesson
Paul is addressing the young church in Rome about the conflict between Jewish and gentile believers. The Jews were familiar with the law; the first five books of the Bible called the Torah were a compilation of hundreds of laws given to the Israelites. For the past millennia, obedience to these commands had been their responsibility. Israel, God’s chosen people, were bound to Him in a solemn covenant. These were not arbitrary rules laid out by Moses or some tribal chief; rather, they were laws of a covenant community. When a law was transgressed, the covenant was broken as was their relationship with God. The only way to restore this broken relationship was through sacrifice. Living under these principles for so many years, it is no wonder the Jews placed much emphasis on keeping the law.
The gentiles, who were joining the New Testament church, had none of this history and may have challenged the law-abiding Jews. Some of these proselytes had been raised in idolatry and immorality. They needed teaching on obedience to God’s commands.
Paul addresses this conflict by emphasizing that both groups are saved by faith in Jesus, and there is no distinction between them. He clarifies that the law is given to show people their sin and need for salvation. The law is good, holy, and reveals our sinfulness, but it cannot save us. In marriage, a husband or wife is bound to their spouse for life, but when one dies, the other is released from the law of marriage. In like manner, we are released from the law of sin and death through faith in Jesus Christ.
Practical Truths for Today
Without God’s Word telling us about his nature, how would we understand who He is? How could we identify sin without the law explaining what it is? And without knowledge of sin, how would we be able to understand our need for salvation?
God has given to mankind a body of law. This law, with its commandments, statutes, warnings, and admonitions is very good and is given to us to be obeyed. “ ‘Sin is the transgression of the law’ (1 John 3:4). . . . Since no one is able through his own will to keep the law of God perfectly, these words place everyone under condemnation, or a sentence of death, for it is written, ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die’ (Ezek. 18:4).” ² Those who rely on the keeping of the law for their justification before God are under a curse. No one has kept the law well enough to be justified.
Some may tend to keep the law rigidly. Homes may be simple, clothes modest, and vehicles plain, and a sense of security is found by holding to these ideals. But it remains difficult to completely surrender to God. We may try hard to satisfy the law through carefulness but find this is impossible. As we become more rigid and orthodox, we become devoid of a meek and humble spirit, and we will hold others to our exacting standards. By becoming critical of those who do not live as we think one should, we fail to realize that we are deceiving ourselves and are bound, unable to face who we really are.
On the other hand, others desire freedom from command and restraint and ask, “Why must we obey? Why can’t we seek our freedom in thought or action as we think best?” They resent authority, question tradition, and disregard established customs. God’s law teaches that man is bent to selfishness rather than benevolence. Selfishness, pride, and worldliness are sin. We can find ourselves immersed in the news, following the political scene or sports, or indulging in the lust of the eye. Fashion, large business endeavors, or the latest new thing leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled, unable to recognize our guilt. Permissiveness is not freedom from the law.
Whether we find ourselves being legalistic or permissive, being bound under the law is evidenced by an unrest in spirit. We look around at others to gauge ourselves and judge those who do not see things as we do. Sometimes this can cause us to push our point in a discussion; at other times it may cause one to withdraw from fellowship or be quiet to avoid condemnation. Both conditions point to a lack of fervency and direction from the Holy Spirit because heart communion with Christ is missing. True faith looks only to Jesus for justification and assurance. “I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” (Heb. 10:16). This inward law helps a Christian understand when they have sinned, even though the Bible may not have specific direction in every case.
As realization dawns that our transgressions have put us in bondage to the law, we must seek freedom. Falling on our knees, we acknowledge that we are sinners who can never be free from sin no matter how hard we try. By sincerely confessing our wrongs and imploring God’s forgiveness, we can rise with faith and the joyful assurance of being free. Christ has paid our debt, and we go forth with a free spirit, standing before God justified as though we had never been guilty. We are no longer bound to the rigors of the law but are free to serve our Master with willing obedience. The newness of the Spirit gives direction in temptations and inspiration for life’s challenges. There is peace where before there was strife.
God’s law stands unmovable and will remain until the end of time. It is our choice whether we live under the law or grace.
Questions
- Jesus had strong words for the scribes and Pharisees who added to the law. How can we know if our convictions are our own law rather than the law of God?
- Youth can feel bound by the rules and requirements of their parents. Others may be allowed things that they are not. How can they be free?
- How do we know if we are free from the law or simply being permissive?
- 1 The Complete Writings of Menno Simons, p. 718
- 2 Bible Doctrine and Practice, p. 87
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).