Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 2Sample

In Romans 7, we read how Paul speaks on the law and sin we face in our lives.

He addresses the Jews about the law and sinfulness and focuses on the fact that we are no longer bound by the law and sin (even if we do sin). We are united with Christ, and the law is a guiding mechanism for our day-to-day living.

Paul teaches us two important things:

1. We have been given an opportunity for relationships instead of only following rules. Paul speaks to the Jews and tells them that the law doesn’t define us and who we are as individuals. Christ does that through His death and resurrection. We are meant not to steer away from the law but use it as a guide to producing a good harvest all around us (Romans 7:4).

2. He likens it to marriage, and being married keeps you faithful to your spouse. Once a spouse dies, you are free of the marriage's obligations. In the same way, the death of Jesus broke the ‘obligation to sin’, but His resurrection enabled us to step into a relationship and not just blindly follow the rules and be defined by our sins.

Jesus encourages us to live a life led by the Spirit. To know that whilst we still sin, we are free in Jesus and no longer held captive by law. Take comfort in the thought that the love that Christ has for us is there to enable us to live a life guided by the Spirit and makes us free.