THE LAW OF THE DEAD (Romans 7:1-6)
The Apostle Paul brings out an interesting view of law; the limits of law and its relevant applicability in relation to life and death. He clearly states that a given a set of law (no matter how stringent and binding) can never be enforceable outside the realms of life.
Laws are formulated to enforce order in the land of the living where the impending strife for the limited resources is the disorder of the day. The apparent sense of urgency to gain as much as possible in the least time possible has geared many into lots of mayhem.
Believers and unbelievers alike are constantly tuned to the biological ticking of the clock as a reminder to their lives that are short lived. Space and time in my opinion were baby steps or rather a mock step in preparation for higher life forms where we are all predestined; irrespective of the polarity(good or bad).
As such, can a law formulated to govern weak life forms within the limiting constructs of space and time continue to stay relevant where time bows out to eternity? Does the commandment; 'thou shall not kill' continue to serve its restraint in a realm where death is nonexistent?
The death of Christ ushered us into a new dispensation. An era of grace and mercy where our souls are constantly cleansed through death with Him and resurrection with Jesus Christ. Therefore, laws of the living cease to apply to us. We become sojourners in a foreign land, fully aware of our true citizenship and not bound by neither materiality nor time but walking circumspectfully towards eternity.
Most of us are caught in between the duo-life. Their spirit so much desires to die with Christ yet their body so much adores the trappings of this world. The Apostle Paul in Romans 7:21-24 grumbles of this same state in his life. He is caught in between two worlds and thus two sets of laws are at war within him. He comes to a candid resolution in Romans 7:25 "I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with with mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin"
The discipline of the body knows nothing else but forced compliance to the laws of sin. The freedom of the mind and the Spirit is drawn from the commitment to the law of the dead, the law of God. This law is drawn out of a full understanding of our divine purpose and not out of fear of the impending punitive measures.
Man in his body thus has to be subjected to two laws; but if he truly is dead with Christ even the law of sin ceases to be relevant. The law of God takes over, he is in no longer in fear of time nor bothered about materiality or lack thereof.
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