Married to Another

“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead,

she is loosed from the law of her husband.” (Romans 7:1-2)

Here is a parable in which the first husband represents the law; the wife represents the church and not the second but the last husband represents the LORD Jesus Christ. The picture is of a humble Jewish woman who is married to a stern, critical, unyielding, unrelenting, perfectionist husband. She can never do enough to please him. The meals are either too hot or too cold. He puts on a white glove to check for dust on the windowsill at the end of every day. When she speaks, she is too loud or too soft. She talks too much or too little. Her clothing is too dull or too flashy. She is too slow or too fast. What she thought was an ideal has become an ordeal. Now, she needs a new deal! She had a situation! She was in bondage. She had no legal or moral recourse. And worst of all, they both lived from the time of the first Adam to the advent and suffering of the Last Adam, the LORD Jesus Christ.

Finally, the first husband, the law, died. She was free! God’s elect, the church, died to the law when Christ died. By His obedience unto death, He fulfilled every part and penalty of the law. By her union with Christ, she also fulfilled the law. She was married to the law; now, she is married to Christ. He is the exact opposite of the first husband. He is kind, tender, gentle, encouraging, accepting and loving. She has found liberty she never knew existed. So it is for those married to Christ!