The Lifelong Dominion of the Law Romans 7:1

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome, “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”, and in chapter seven and verse one of Romans, Paul asked the Romans if they knew, “the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?” where we read:

Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,)

how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

The verse begins, “Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,)” Paul began with the words, “know you not” which means “are Paul's believing readers ignorant, without understanding, mistaken and wrong”, “brethren” which means “fellow believers who are united to another by the bond of affection”, “(for I speak” or “Paul utters, proclaims and declares” “to them” or “toward the people whether male or female” “that know” which means “who perceive, understand and are acquainted with” “the law” or “rule producing a state approved of God”). Paul questioned whether his readers who were familiar with God's “law” perceived and understood what he was going to ask them.

The verse continues, “how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?” Paul continued his question with the words, “how that” or “because and since” “the law” which means “the rule producing a state approved of God” “has dominion over” which refers to “has rule, influence, force and power over” “a man” which means “a human being whether male or female” “as long as” which means “for as much, to the term and for the season” “he lives” or “that human being has breath, exerts power and is full of vigor”. Paul continued his question by referring to the way “the law” “rules” over a person for all their lives.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how “the law” is valid and good for a lifetime, and although a person is under “the law”, they no longer shall be when they are dead. “God's law” for the living no longer applies when a person dies. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the “law of God”, and when a person submits his or her life to Him, they have obeyed God's greatest provision for not keeping His “law”. As we think this through, let us be mindful of Paul's first address in this verse, “know you not?”

Next time we see Paul tell his readers, “the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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