Romans 7:1–6

An Illustration from Marriage

7Since I am speaking to those who understand law, brothers, ^jare you unaware that the law has authority over someone as long as he lives? ²For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. ^kBut if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. ³So then, if she gives herself to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she gives herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.

⁴Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death ^lin relation to the law ^mthrough the crucified body of the Messiah, ⁿso that you may belong to another—to Him who was raised from the dead—that we may bear fruit for God. ⁵For when we were in the flesh, ^opthe sinful passions operated through the law in every part of us ^qrand bore fruit for death. ⁶But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new way ^sof the Spirit ^tand not in the old letter of the law.