There is a law for everything, and everything has a law. Marriage is no exception. According to all societies, marriage is bound by law. That is not romantic. Yet, it is true. Marriage law in most cultures states something like this, “The married couple is bound to each other exclusively as long as both are alive.” (2)
Another law says, “You shall not commit adultery.” (3, Ex. 20:14, Du. 5:18) Another law says, ” You shall not covenant your neighbor’s wife.” (Ex. 20:17) Another law says, “If anyone looks at another lustfully they have already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5:28) Other laws exist about marriage and adultery. Probably more laws exist on marriage than any other subject in the Bible.
Genesis 2:24 is God’s ultimate statement about the union between a man and a woman. It is not a law, it’s a reality. “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Naturally based on this statement, when the flesh dies the bind breaks. When one dies they are released from marriage laws (3).
Paul uses marriage laws to make his point. God binds his people to Christ when they first believe. That union is like the union between a married man and woman. Jesus is betrothed to the church like the bond of marriage. I am a part of his congregation. I am bound to Christ forever.
When Jesus died on the cross his binding to the law was broken. Since his bride is bound to him we too are no longer bound to the law (4). When Jesus died his bride remained bound to Jesus. We were buried with him. When he rose from the dead, we rose with him. The resurrected Jesus is not bound to the law. So neither am I bound to the law (6).
The resurrected couple, Jesus and the church, serve God in a new way, the way of the Spirit (6). The law means nothing to Jesus and his bride. We died and rose with Christ in order that we might bear fruit for God just as a wife bears children for her husband (4). Am I pregnant for God?
