Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that your "death to the law" isn't just a removal of obligation, but a death achieved through Christ's body. This means your freedom comes from His sacrifice, not your own efforts, making your subsequent union with the risen Christ the powerful source of new life and fruitfulness for God.
Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is applying the analogy of marriage and death to explain the believer's relationship with the Law. He previously established that death severs the legal ties to a spouse, and now he argues that believers have "died to the law" through Christ's sacrifice. This death to the Law isn't about its abolition as a moral standard, but about being freed from its power to condemn and justify, so they can be united to Christ.
Have you ever felt bound by rules you couldn't possibly keep? The law can feel like that, but Paul offers incredible news about our relationship with it.
Paul uses a powerful illustration here: marriage. Just as death frees a spouse from the marriage bond, our spiritual 'death' with Christ frees us from the law's authority over us.
Not Freedom to Sin
It's crucial to understand that this 'death to the law' isn't an excuse to live however we want. It means we are no longer under the law as a way to earn God's favor or as a system of condemnation. The law's power to justify or condemn us is broken because Christ, in His death, has already dealt with its full penalty and requirements on our behalf.
A New Covenant Relationship
This death to the law opens up a new relationship – a union with Christ that is far more profound and life-giving.
If our old 'marriage' to the law is over, what comes next? Paul paints a beautiful picture of a new, vibrant union.
Once freed from the law's dominion, we are 'married' to Christ. This isn't just a legalistic pairing; it's an intimate, life-giving union.
The Risen Husband
The verse emphasizes that this 'husband' is 'he who has been raised from the dead.' His resurrection signifies His victory over death and sin, and it's the source of the new life we now live. Our union with Him means we share in that victorious, eternal life.
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Fruitful Living
This new marriage isn't sterile; it's meant to be fruitful! Because we are united to the living Christ, we are empowered to 'bear fruit for God.' This fruit isn't about trying harder to meet the law's demands; it's the natural outflow of a life connected to the life-giving vine. It's holiness, love, joy – the very character of God manifesting through us.
Understand the original words
sōma · Greek Noun
Refers to the physical body of Jesus, particularly as the sacrifice offered on the cross. It is the means by which the debt of sin was paid and the old covenant relationship was terminated.
karpophoreō · Greek Verb
Spiritual productivity or the manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s character in a believer's life. It signifies actions and attitudes that are pleasing to God as a result of a new union with Christ.
This passage directly lists the 'fruit of the Spirit' which aligns with the 'fruit for God' mentioned in Romans 7:4, showing the practical outcome of a life united with Christ.
Ephesians 5:23-32This section elaborates on the marriage metaphor, portraying Christ as the husband and the Church as His bride, reinforcing the intimate and covenantal relationship described in Romans 7:4.
Colossians 1:21-22This passage speaks of believers being reconciled and presented holy and blameless through Christ's physical body, echoing the idea in Romans 7:4 that death through Christ's body frees us for a new relationship.
1 Corinthians 6:17This verse states that 'whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him,' highlighting the profound union that makes bearing fruit for God possible, as described in Romans 7:4.
John 15:4-5Jesus describes himself as the vine and believers as branches, emphasizing that apart from him, we can do nothing, but in union with him, we can bear much fruit, which directly supports the purpose stated in Romans 7:4.
barnesRomans 7:4: "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."
Wherefore - This verse contains an application of the illustration in the two preceding. The idea there is, that death dissolves a connection from which obligation resulted. This is the single point of the illustration, and consequently there is no need of inquiring whether by the…
bensonRomans 7:4: "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."
Romans 7:4 . Wherefore, my brethren — Hence it follows, or by this comparison it appears; ye also — Believing Jews, and much more believing Gentiles; are become dead to the law — Taken off from all hopes of justification by it, and confidence in your obedience to it: and so likewi…
The verse highlights that your "death to the law" isn't just a removal of obligation, but a death achieved through Christ's body. This means your freedom comes from His sacrifice, not your own efforts, making your subsequent union with the risen Christ the powerful source of new life and fruitfulness for God.
Paul is applying the analogy of marriage and death to explain the believer's relationship with the Law. He previously established that death severs the legal ties to a spouse, and now he argues that believers have "died to the law" through Christ's sacrifice. This death to the Law isn't about its abolition as a moral standard, but about being freed from its power to condemn and justify, so they can be united to Christ.
Paul is applying the analogy of marriage and death to explain the believer's relationship with the Law. He previously established that death severs the legal ties to a spouse, and now he argues that believers have "died to the law" through Christ's sacrifice. This death to the Law isn't about its abolition as a moral standard, but about being freed from its power to condemn and justify, so they can be united to Christ.
"Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God." — The verse highlights that your "death to the law" isn't just a removal of obligation, but a death achieved through Christ's body. This means your freedom comes from His sacrifice, not your own effo…
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Last reviewed October 2026