Audio commentary on this verse

Note 5 at Rom. 7:4: Through Jesus, not only is our old man dead, but we are dead to the law that enforced the tyranny of the old man over us. The law was only made for the old man (1 Tim. 1:9-10). Once he is dead, we are no longer under the law (see note 6 at Rom. 6:14, p. 781). Failure to understand this will produce the same end results as if our old man was not dead.

Note 6 at Rom. 7:4: Christ didn't free us from the relationship to our first husband, the old man, so we could just run around and do whatever we want, but he freed us from that first marriage so we could marry Him. A Christian's freedom is not freedom to do "our own thing" but it is freedom from the old nature so that we can now serve Christ in newness of spirit (v. 6).

Note 7 at Rom. 7:4: Just as it is normal for a physical marriage to produce children, so our marriage to Christ is intended to bring forth fruit (see note 47 at Jn. 15:2, p. 493).