Romans 7:3,4 - Died to the law

7:3

This is where the confusion arises, if we interpret what Paul says strictly. However, if we remember that he is explaining a spiritual principle and not a point of law there really is no problem. If a married woman (or man) marries another man (or woman) she commits adultery. However, if the man dies then she is no longer bound by the marriage for death has ended it. She is free to marry another man. The point that Paul is making is that death ends the agreement, ends the marriage covenant. So as we died with Christ our commitment to the principle of law has ended.

7:4

Now we are described as the ones who died. Death and resurrection are fundamental to the gospel. They are fundamental to what Christ has done, and fundamental to our participation in it. We died to the law through the death of Christ. Jesus died the death we deserved to die, He suffered the penalty that should have been ours. Once the penalty is paid that is the end of the agreement, the Law no longer has any hold over us nor claim on us. And Christ died so that we could belong to another. God’s plan is not that continue on the old way of the law, but that we live a new life. We now belong to Christ, and have been released from the old way so that we could bear fruit. See that the goal is that we bear fruit for Christ. Under the old way we will not bear fruit for God.