Released from the Law to belong to Christ

Romans: The Gospel for God’s glory
Romans 7:1-6
Released from the law to belong to Christ
We were released from the law to belong to Christ so we can bear fruit for God

1) The law has authority over a person only as long as he lives, 7:1.
In light of 6:14-15, why does Paul begin teaching about the place of the law for the Christian?

2) A married woman is bound to her husband while he lives but she is released if he dies, 7:2.

3) If a woman’s husband dies, she is free from the marriage law and can marry another, 7:3.
In verse 1 Paul lays out a principle, which he illustrates in verses 2-3. What is the principle in verse 1 and how do verses 2-3 illustrate it?

4) You died to the law through Christ that you may belong to him, so we can bear fruit for God, 7:4.
How does verse 4 explain the principle that Paul illustrated in verses 1-3? (See 6:3-7 to see how we died to sin, and so we died to the law’s condemnation). What is the fruit we bear for God? (see 6:22).

5) While we were in the flesh, sinful passions were at work in us through the law to bear fruit for death, 7:5.
What does Paul mean by “when we were in the flesh”? What is the flesh? What does Paul say happens when the law interacted with us when we were in the flesh?

6) Now we are released from the law, having died to what held us, so we may serve in the newness of the Spirit not the old written code, 7:6.
What is the meaning and significance of being released from the law, having died to the law which held us captive so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit? What was the problem with “the old written code” (what could it not do for us)? How do we “bear fruit for God” by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-23)?