“Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter” (Romans 7:4-6).
Because of His utter brilliance, Jehovah is the God of ideal economy. He gets as much “bang for his buck” as is possible in everything He does. For example, not only does the physical characteristics of Earth make it an ideal place for human life, the heavens have been so created to declare His glory (Psalm 19:1) because our created world visibly demonstrates His invisible characteristics of eternal power and deity (Romans 1:20).
The cross of Christ at Calvary was the fulfillment of many Old Testament promises and prophecies. It was the perfect conjugation of God’s justice, holiness, grace, and love. Mercy and truth met at Calvary; righteousness and peace kissed at Golgotha (Psalm 85:10).
Romans 7:4-6 explains another facet of Calvary’s economy. Christ’s death was the final jot and tittle of the Law which He fulfilled. Therefore, His death ended its jurisdiction. “Sinai to Calvary” is how the Law of Moses’ tombstone reads. The earthquake’s rumble and the temple veil’s tear from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) signified that the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us, had been taken out of the way; it was nailed to Calvary’s middle cross (Colossians 2:14).
Christ’s death also provides the redemption by which every slave of sin and death can be freed from its tyrannical rule. This gruesome taskmaster was conquered at Calvary. If we die with Christ, we will die to that which formerly held us in its inescapable grasp. Therefore, we can now “serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter”.
Freed from the Law of Moses which could only condemn sinners.
Freed from the law of sin and death by which Satan gleefully reigned over us.
Freed from both at Calvary.
What a “Two-fer”!
