Romans 7:4

Wherefore. Paul now applies the illustration from marriage law to the experience of the Christian. His major point is that death dissolves legal obligation. Therefore, as death frees the wife from the claims of the marriage law, so that she may properly marry another, so the Christian’s crucifixion with Christ releases him from the dominion of sin and law, so that he may enter into a new spiritual union with the risen Saviour.

Are become dead. Literally, “were put to death,” referring to the crucifixion of the “old man” with Christ (ch. 6:6). In the illustration it was the death of the husband that freed the wife from the law. In the application it is the death of the old sinful self that releases the believer from the condemnation and dominion of the law and frees him to be joined to Christ. As in ch. 6, Paul is viewing the Christian as if he had a double life, the old sin-condemned life, which he lays down with Christ, and the new life of acceptance and holiness, to which he rises with Christ (see on v. 11).

To the law. The death of the old man results in release from the self-imposed bondage of attempting to secure salvation by works of law (see on ch. 6:14).

By the body of Christ. Literally, “through the body of Christ,” that is, through the sacrificial death of Christ (see Eph. 2:15; Col. 1:22; 1 Peter 2:24). Into this death the believer is baptized (Rom. 6:4), and by thus participating in Christ’s death to sin and law, as explained in ch. 6, the believer may regard his old self as dead to the things to which he once was captive. The one accepting Christ takes his place, as it were, with Christ upon the cross, and there has his old self crucified.

Be married to another. Literally, “be to another,” though “be married” is evidently the correct meaning in this context. The comparison of the union between Christ and believers, to a marriage, is not unfamiliar to Paul (see 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25, 28, 29; cf. Jer. 3:14).

Even to him. That is, to Christ.

Bring forth fruit. The symbolism of this chapter closely parallels that of ch. 6. The “old man” is the first husband. The crucifixion of the “old man” (ch. 6:6) is the death of the husband. The resurrection to new life (ch. 6:5, 11) is the remarriage. In each case the final outcome is the bearing of fruit unto God, the fruit of a reformed life (ch. 6:22).