Transcript

R.C. Sproul (0:00)

The law is rooted and grounded in the character of God. It flows from the very being of God. And I remind you that as the author of human life, as the creator of your soul, he has every right to impose whatever obligations he wants to upon you.

Renewing Your Mind Host (0:24)

In Romans, chapter 7, the apostle Paul makes the point that as believers, we have been freed from God's law commandments. So does that mean we can live any way we want? Today on Renewing youg Mind, we begin a new sermon series from RC Sproul in the Book of Romans, as we consider the law of God and our relationship to it as Christians. Before we get to today's sermon, you can own Dr. Sproul's commentary on Romans, which was the fruit of his study and series in the book where you donate before midnight tonight@renewingyourmind.org well, to start this short series, here's R.C. sproul in Romans, chapter seven.

R.C. Sproul (1:09)

I'm going to begin chapter seven at verse one and read through verse six. Or do you not know, brethren? For I speak to those who know the law, that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives. For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 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. He has this extended analogy here about marriage. It's very simple. You get married, you take your vows, and in most liturgies of marriage, when the promises are made, we promise to honor each other and cherish each other. How long? As long as we both shall live. Because we understand if one of the partners in that marriage covenant should die, that all of the obligations for the remaining person that were sworn to in the vows of that marriage are now set aside, and the widow or the widower is completely free in the eyes of God, to be married again to another person, so that the law that binds us and regulates our marriages is in effect in our lives only as long as our partner remains alive. That's pretty simple, isn't it? We don't have to labor that to any degree. The difficulty here is the point of the analogy that Paul makes here where we read in verse four, therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another. Now notice the little shift here. It's not that your spouse has died, but you have died. And notice that Paul does not say that the law has died, but you're the one who has died. And since you have died, your marriage to the law is over, so that the law will no longer have dominion over you the way it had before you died. Now again, you died in Christ, and in Christ the law was fulfilled. Now, let me back up here. First of all, when Paul is talking about the law here, we could ask the question, is he talking about the ceremonial law? Is he talking about the law of Moses given at Sinai, or is he talking about law? And even wider and broader sense, I'm persuaded that he's talking about the whole of the moral law of God, not just that which was given by Moses, not just that which is found in the ceremonies of the Old Testament. But he goes back to creation. He's already labored the point in chapter five that death reigned from Adam to Moses. Proving what? That apart from the law, there is no sin, and apart from sin, there is no death. Now, since death entered into the world with Adam and Eve, and people after Adam and Eve all died before the law of Moses was ever given, that means that sin was in the world before the law of Moses. And the only way sin could be in the world before the law of Moses is that there was another law that preceded the law of Moses, namely, the moral law of God that he reveals in nature and in our consciences. So that from the very beginning, the law of God has had dominion over us. But now it's not that the law has been removed and that the law is dead, but in Christ we have died. And he has taken the full weight of the curse of the law upon himself, so that we are no longer with that burden on our backs. And because we died with him, we died to the law as a way of salvation. We never look again to obeying the law ourselves in order to receive the blessing of God. Now be very, very careful, as Paul will say later, this doesn't mean that this gives us a license to sin. That since we're freed from the dominion of the law, freed from the curse of the law, we're not underneath the burden of the law. That doesn't mean that the law is a bad thing. We're supposed to despise the law. Everybody in this room is a sinner. And if you've been awakened by the Holy Ghost and have been convicted of your sin to such a degree that the law acted as a schoolmaster for you, taught you your sinfulness, directed you to a Savior, and you've been now redeemed and justified because you're putting your hope in in his righteousness and not your own. If you have experienced what the Bible describes as the conviction of sin, where you've been made aware that you are a sinner, let me say to you that we haven't begun to feel the weight of that conviction. We haven't begun to understand how far short we have fallen of the glory of God. We haven't touched the guilt that we experience. What is the worst sin that a person could commit? The logic is simple. If the great commandment is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart and strength and soul and your neighbor as yourself, it would seem to me, if that's the number one commandment from God, that the worst thing we could ever do would be to break that one. But have you ever lost sleep because you failed to keep the great commandment? I know you haven't. You see, Luther would look at himself at night and he'd say in his prayers, God, I didn't love you with my whole heart today for five minutes. I've never committed my entire mind in the discipline of mastering your word. How can I get relief from your judgment? Because I haven't loved you the way you've called me to love. You see where that doesn't bother us? It was killing Luther. As if ever a man tried to find his way to heaven through obeying the law, it was Martin Luther. And if he was crazy, I thank God that he gave us a crazy man to open our eyes to the gospel. The craziest thing you could ever do is to try to work your way into heaven. We are not able by the works of the flesh. The apostle Paul has already told us, by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But we still try to do it. That's the ladder that we try to climb, the ladder of our own righteousness so that we can come to God at the last Day with something in our hand other than the cross. Nobody understood this better than Augustus Toplady. Rock of ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee Nothing in my hand I bring simply to the cross I cling vow I to the fountain fly Wash me, Saviour, or I die. And this is what Paul is unpacking for us here in the end of chapter six and into chapter seven. Therefore, my brethren, you have become dead to the law through the body of Christ that you may be married to another. It's not that your spouse has died, but you have died. And what claim does any law have on a dead man? The dead man's not capable of obedience or disobedience. The will has ceased functioning. Dead people don't sin. The law does not reign over corpses. And in Jesus Christ, you're a corpse, you're dead, so the law can't touch you with the scourge of its curse. Well, again I mentioned that Luther saw that the main function of the law was to lead us to Christ. Calvin had what has now become famously known as his threefold function of the law. And let's review that briefly. Again, the first function of the law is to reveal the character of God. You know, that's what we have to understand, first of all, whose law it is. The moral law is not simply a list of abstract duties, a list of do's and don'ts, but the law first of all reveals the lawgiver. In the final analysis, it's not laws that are rooted and grounded in the nature of things, but the law is rooted and grounded in the character of God. It flows from the very being of God. And I remind you that as the author of human life, as the creator of your soul, he has every right to impose whatever obligations he wants to upon you. God has the right to say, thou shalt do this and thou shalt not do that. And who are you? Who am I to defy the Lord God omnipotent? Say, you don't have any right to tell me what to do and what not to do. I'm a woman. I have an inalienable right over my own body. Oh, no, you don't. The God who made your body rules your body. And he tells you what you may do with your body and what you may not do with your body. So the law, in the first use, since it comes from the character of God, expresses the character of God. It reveals his holiness. That's why we distance ourselves from it. That's why we are not zealous to pursue a deeper knowledge of the law. Because when we get involved with the study of the knowledge of God, we are drawn irresistibly close to that ultimate standard of righteousness found in God's own character. And so with that revelation of his character, at the same instant that the law reveals the holiness of God, it reveals to us our unholiness. The law is a mirror. I love that image. When I joined weight watchers 20 years ago and successfully completed it, became a lifetime member. Took me five years to put back the weight that I had taken off on Weight Watchers and so we're at a Weight Watchers meeting and the instructor made us go around the room and say, what made you turn yourself in? What made you finally come and join this group and decide to really get serious about losing weight? When she came and called on me, I said it was when I found out that when I walked past store windows on the street, I couldn't stand to look in the window because not only would I see the merchandise displayed in the window, but I would see the image of my rotund middle there. And then one day I was shopping in a golf shop and the proprietor came up to me and said, there's a telephone call for you from your wife. And so I took the call and talked to her and hung up. And then I said to the proprietor, how did you know that I was her husband? She said that, well, she was calling for this short, fat guy. I didn't like the mirror. I didn't like what it showed me about my shape. Although round is a shape, we have other blemishes that are revealed to us by honest mirrors, but they don't make mirrors out there for your soul. That mirror is found in the law of God. And when I look in that mirror, that mirror never lies. And that mirror drives me to my knees. Because the law of God reveals my pollution. And so, as Calvin said, once the law reveals to us our corruption, then it serves, as Luther said, as the pedagogue that teaches us of the gospel and drives us to Christ. But there are two other uses of the law. On the other hand, the law serves as a restraint upon our sin. We live in a lawless culture, and yet some sociologists are saying we're an over governed culture. Every year Congress adds hundreds and hundreds of new laws. New ways to make us guilty of before the state, new ways in which we can get in trouble. And we have to have law enforcement to keep a civil society, because every day people round and about are violating the Law and violating people. And yet, can you imagine what society would be like if you didn't have any laws? You have laws that post the speed limit out there, 65 miles an hour. We go 75, we go 80, take down the speed limits and it's 90, 95. There is some restraint. That's why no government is worse than bad government. The worst of all possible societies are societies that are marked by anarchy, because law, as much as we hate it, still exercises some restraints upon us. As sinful as we are. We would be even more sinful if the restraints were removed. And finally, the third use of the law, what is called in the Latin the Tertius uses of the law in Calvin, which was one of the most important insights of the Swiss theologian. And that as even though we are free from the law, its burden, its destruction, yet the law continues to reveal to us what is pleasing to God. A couple of years ago, I recounted the experience I had a long time ago when I was invited to Rye, New York, to a huge Presbyterian church there made up of very well to do people to give a series of lectures on the holiness of God. And I gave the first lecture. And afterwards the committee that was sponsoring this group asked me to go back to one of the homes for dessert and for prayer. And I said, sure. So about 20 of us went back to this mansion of great grandeur where you have a bird bath in your front yard. This lady had a Henry Moore sculptor out in the middle of the yard that the birds were swimming in. It was incredible. And we went in this house. The people turned out the lights, got on the floor, got on their knees. They started to pray. And to my utter shock, they began to pray to their departed relatives. And I said, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Time out. What is this? I was in the middle of a seance. I said, what are you doing? We're channeling. Were communicating with our departed relatives. I said, do you know what the word of God says about that? That God has made this activity in the Old Covenant a capital offense. He considers it an abomination. And not only would he punish the practitioners of it, but if the nation tolerated it, he would curse the whole country. Yeah, we know that, but that's the Old Testament. But now the Spirit has led us, now that we're free from the law, that we are free to participate in this. I said, wait, what is it in the history of redemption that has changed? An activity that is utterly repugnant to God in one economy, now all of a sudden, pleasing to him? You see the law, in its continual revelatory value made it very clear to me that that was something no Christian should ever, ever be involved with. So there the Law served as a guide for me as it serves as a guide for you. We're not under its curse, we're not under its weight. But the beauty of the law is still available to us as Paul begins to deal with in verse 7 we have been dead to the law through Christ. We've been married to another, to him who was raised from the dead that we should bear fruit to God. For even when we are in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. When we were under the law, the only fruit that we ever brought forth was the fruit of death. But now we've been delivered from that 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. So what? So what? What shall we say then? Again, the rhetorical question is the law sin? The law was so destructive to us. This law put us in bondage, led to death. So is it the Law's fault? Is the law a bad thing? Well, God willing, that's what we'll look at the next time we're together.

Podcast Summary: Renewing Your Mind

Episode: Freed from the Law

Date: October 12, 2025
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Speaker: Dr. R.C. Sproul

Brief Overview

In this episode, Dr. R.C. Sproul introduces Romans 7, focusing on what it means for Christians to be "freed from the law." Rather than abolishing the law, Paul teaches that believers, through union with Christ in His death and resurrection, are released from the law as a means of salvation. Sproul breaks down Paul's analogy of marriage, the continuing purpose of the law, and addresses misunderstandings about Christian liberty—emphasizing that freedom from the law's curse does not equate to lawlessness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Analogy of Marriage and Death

Text Referenced: Romans 7:1-6
Paul uses the analogy of a married woman being bound by the law to her husband only while he lives; if he dies, she is free to remarry.
Key Insight: "It's not that your spouse has died, but you have died. And notice that Paul does not say that the law has died, but you're the one who has died." (R.C. Sproul, 04:36)
In Christ, believers have "died," therefore their "marriage" (allegiance) to the law as a condemning authority is ended.

2. What Law is Paul Referring To?

Sproul contends Paul is not limiting his reference to the Mosaic or ceremonial law; he means "the whole of the moral law of God, not just that which was given by Moses, not just that which is found in the ceremonies of the Old Testament." (06:52)
The moral law has applied to humanity since creation and is revealed also in nature and conscience.

3. The Law’s Condemnation and Christ’s Fulfillment

In Christ, believers have "died" to the law’s demands for salvation.
“He has taken the full weight of the curse of the law upon himself, so that we are no longer with that burden on our backs. And because we died with him, we died to the law as a way of salvation.” (08:55)
Christians are not justified by works of the law but by faith in Christ.

4. Does Freedom from the Law Mean License to Sin?

Sproul warns against the idea that being freed from the law grants a license to sin or means the law itself is bad.
“This doesn't mean that this gives us a license to sin. That since we're freed from the dominion of the law, freed from the curse of the law, we're not underneath the burden of the law. That doesn't mean that the law is a bad thing. We're supposed to despise the law.” (11:01)

5. The Depth of Human Guilt and the Mirror of the Law

Sproul highlights how the law exposes our inability to keep God's greatest command—to love Him and neighbor—echoing Martin Luther’s torment and humility over his lack of love.
“Have you ever lost sleep because you failed to keep the great commandment? ... It was killing Luther.” (14:51)
Memorable Reference: “The craziest thing you could ever do is to try to work your way into heaven.” (16:57)
Hymn Quoted: "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling..." (Augustus Toplady, 17:31)

6. Calvin’s Three Uses (Functions) of the Law

(20:00–27:00)

First Use: Reveals God’s character and our unholiness; the law is a mirror.
- "The moral law is not simply a list of abstract duties, a list of do's and don'ts, but the law first of all reveals the lawgiver." (20:31)
Second Use: Restrains sin in society (civil use).
- Even with abundant laws, society needs more restraint, not less, because anarchy is worse than bad government. (21:42)
Third Use (Tertius Usus): The law guides believers in knowing what pleases God.
- "Even though we are free from the law... yet the law continues to reveal to us what is pleasing to God." (22:58)

7. Illustrative Stories

Mirror Analogy: Sproul compares the law to a mirror that never lies about our soul, recalling a personal anecdote about Weight Watchers and self-recognition.
- “They don't make mirrors out there for your soul. That mirror is found in the law of God. And when I look in that mirror, that mirror never lies. And that mirror drives me to my knees.” (20:54)
Prayer Meeting Gone Awry: Sproul recounts a group in an affluent church praying to the dead, misconstruing Christian liberty as a license for practices the Old Testament calls abominable.
- “What is it in the history of redemption that has changed an activity that is utterly repugnant to God in one economy, now all of a sudden, pleasing to Him?” (23:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"It's not that the law has been removed and that the law is dead, but in Christ we have died." (09:31)
"The law does not reign over corpses. And in Jesus Christ, you're a corpse, you're dead, so the law can't touch you with the scourge of its curse." (18:51)
"If you've been awakened by the Holy Ghost... the law acted as a schoolmaster for you, taught you your sinfulness, directed you to a Savior..." (12:05)
"As sinful as we are, we would be even more sinful if the restraints were removed." (22:31)
"The beauty of the law is still available to us... we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter." (24:00)

Important Timestamps

00:00–01:09 — Introduction to law’s grounding in God’s character (Sproul and host)
01:09–04:36 — Paul’s marriage analogy in Romans 7
04:36–09:31 — What it means to “die to the law” and the nature of the law
09:31–13:10 — The continuing reality of the moral law and its effect on conscience
13:10–17:31 — The great commandment, Luther’s struggle, and Toplady’s hymn
17:31–24:00 — Calvin’s threefold use of the law; law as mirror, restrainer, and guide
23:58–24:15 — Illustrative story: error of misapplying “freedom from law”
24:00–end — Transition to next week’s teaching

Conclusion

Dr. Sproul’s exposition on Romans 7 clarifies that Christian freedom from the law is not the abolition of God’s standards, but liberation from the law’s power to condemn. The law remains a mirror, restrainer, and guide—always revealing God’s holy character, the depth of our need, and the path of gratitude-driven obedience. With practical illustrations and memorable moments, Sproul underscores the law’s enduring role and prepares listeners for a deeper study into the ongoing relationship between grace and obedience.