If you would, turn with me to
Romans 7. Romans 7, and I'm going to read verses
1 through 6, very familiar. Romans 7, verses 1. 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 a husband is bound by the law to her husband
so long as he liveth. But if the husband be dead, she
is loose from the law of her husband. So then if while her
husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be
called an adulteress. But if her husband be dead, she
is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though
she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also
are become dead to the law by the body of Christ. that ye should
be married to another, even to him who was raised from the dead,
that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in
the flesh, the motions of sins which were by the law did work
in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we
are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held,
that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness
of the letter. We have here, and I don't know
if this is the right term, I was gonna use analogy, but this is
not an analogy that Paul was giving us, because it says in
verse one, for I speak to them that know the law. This is actually
what the law teaches us. But Paul is using the law to
show the relationship of a believer and Christ from this, where he's
going to, where he goes to, and that because Christ did this. He's the one that, it was because
of what he did. The first sentence is what the
law actually tells us, as I just said. The example that follows
is a specific situation involving a husband and wife. Some things to notice here. The
law, it says, has dominion over a man as long as he lives. So
if the man dies, the law has no more dominion over him. I
know I'm just repeating what it says, but I want to point
this out. Then it says that a woman is bound to her husband as long
as he liveth. If she marries someone else while
he's yet alive, she is an adulteress. But if he dies, she is loosed
from that law, from that husband. She is not an adulteress if she
be married to another if that husband is dead. I've read this
and I got to pondering over something here once I got to verse 4. It says if her husband died in
verses 2 and 3, then she would be loose from the law. But then
it goes on to say, ye are become dead to the law that you should
be married to another. It does not say the husband died
or the law died as I believe the husband represents here.
I do believe that the husband is used to show us the relationship
of the law to man. As long as he liveth, it says,
she is married to him. But if he dies, she is loosed,
it says. But it then says that not that
the husband has died, but that she has died. The effects are
the same. If she dies, she is also loosed
from the law. The law demands payment for not
obeying the law. We are all adulteresses when
it comes to the law of God. This could not have happened
on her own or on our own. Dying on our own means we die
forever. I listened to a message by Carol
Poole called The Shoes Latchet, and that's on Sermon Audio if
you all want to listen to it. It's a good message, but The
Shoes Latchet. And that message got me to thinking
about this, and especially as it relates to Ruth and Boaz. So I just want to go through
this, showing the relationship Christ has wrought for a believer,
so that they are now married to him. My title is Dead to the
Law, Married to Christ. So now let's turn over to Ruth,
chapter 4. Ruth, chapter 4. That's just after Judges. Ruth chapter 4 verses 1-8 is
the one I want to read right now. Then went Boaz up to the gate,
and sat him down there. And behold, the kinsman of whom
Boaz spake came by, unto whom he said, Ho, such a one, turn
aside, sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders
of the city and said, sit ye down here. And they sat down.
And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out
of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our
brother Elimelech's. And I thought to advertise these
things, buy it before the inhabitants and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem
it. But if thou wilt not redeem it,
then tell me that I may know, for there is none to redeem it
besides thee, and I am after thee.' And he said, I will redeem
it. Then said Boaz, what day thou
buy'st the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also
of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead. to raise up the
name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot
redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance. Redeem thou
my right to thyself, for I cannot redeem it. Now this was the manner
in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing.
For to confirm all things, a man plucked off his shoe and gave
it to his neighbor. And this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto
Boaz, buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe." We have here A picture of Jesus
Christ in the law. That's what I believe this picture
is. Christ went to the gate where judgment was to be made. Galatians
4 verse 4 and 5 says, but when the fullness of time was come,
God sent forth his son made of a woman, made under the law to
redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the
adoption of sons. He came down and performed that
transaction that was to purchase his people. Here we see it as
Boaz buying back his brother's inheritance and Naomi and Ruth
came along with it. There was, as it says in Ruth
chapter three, a nearer kin. Boaz told Ruth that there was
a nearer kin that had to be dealt with first before he could redeem
her. Boaz had to go where judgment
was to be made and deal with this nearer of kin. We see here
in Ruth that this nearer of kin could not redeem his brother
Elimelech's inheritance since Ruth was involved. What was the
problem? Ruth was the wife of the dead. This nearer of kin could not
redeem it because he could not give life to the dead. as a type
that certainly agrees with scripture, Galatians 3.21, is the law then
against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had
been a law given which could have given life, barely righteousness
should have been by the law. The law could not and cannot
give life to the dead. It would mar his inheritance
as we see here in The law is a glorious condemnation of death. The law heals, but it cannot
make a life. Not because there is some flaw
in the law, but because of the flesh. The law was never intended
to give life to anyone. God knows what is in the heart
of man. He knows no one would ever be
able to keep his law. The law was never designed, it
was never meant to give life. It was meant to show our deadness
and condemnation before God and to shut our mouth so that we
would have nothing to say against the judgment against us. We cannot approach God through
the law. If we attempt to do that, we
will die. Remember Mount Sinai? There will
be no life there. You go to that mountain, you're
gonna die, God says. Now going back to Ruth, I want
to look at this a little closer when it comes to what this other
near of kin did. He ended up drawing off his shoe
to show and to witness to all who were there that Boaz would
be the one that would redeem their brother Elimelech's land
along with Naomi and Ruth. I think there is some significance
as to how this happened here in Ruth, and the significance
is the Gospel. So let's go read another passage
on this taking off of the shoe. You don't have to turn to it,
but if you want to, Deuteronomy 25. I want to read that, and
that's the count in the law here of the taking
off of the shoe. Deuteronomy 25 verses 5 through
9. Deuteronomy 25, 5. If brethren
dwell together and one of them die and have no child, the wife
of a dead shall not marry without unto a stranger. Her husband's
brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to wife and
perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her. And it shall
be that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the
name of his brother which is dead. that his name be not put
out of Israel. And if the man like not to take
his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the
gate unto the elders." His brother's wife go up to the gate of the
elders. And say, my husband's brother
refuses to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel. He
will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. Then the
elders of his city shall call him and speak unto him, and if
he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her, then shall his
brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders,
and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and
shall answer and say, so shall it be done unto that man that
will not build up his brother's house. Do you see here that it says,
if the man will not build up his brother's house, the wife
of the brother shall come into the presence of the elders. But
in Ruth 4, we read of another going to the gate. Ruth did not
go. She could not go. She is a dead
one. She has nothing. She is about
as poor as a person could be. She could not redeem a thing.
She could not approach unto the law because she would be consumed. But there is one who would go
in her stead. There is one who went to the
gate of judgment in our stead if we are one of his. Just as
Boaz went to the gate for Ruth, Christ did for his people. Jesus
Christ, as we read from Galatians 4, came down and was made of
a woman and made under the law to redeem them that are under
the law. The law is still in full force
for some. But not everyone knows they are
under the law. Not everyone knows they are in
bondage to the law. They think it's their bed, buddy.
They are devoted to it, not realizing what it really demands. Some
are right at home with the law, even though that law condemns
them to death. They are quite happy and alive
with the law. Paul tells us this in Romans
7, just as all of us are by nature, we were all at one time alive
in the law. But God at his appointed time
sent his arrow, his law, to shoot right at our heart so that we
would see his law for what it truly is there for. When he sends
that law and we actually see what it says, then sin revives
and we die. What happens then when we die? When we're brought together to
the realization that we're all dead and Adam, sorry I kind of
marred that up, but remember Elimelech is dead and so we are
dead. Adam died and when he died, we
all died. The scripture testifies to this
very thing. Although if we are dead, we cannot
see what the scripture says. Until he comes to us in grace
and opens our eyes, we cannot see we are dead. But when he
does, then we will know that we are dead before living God.
Romans 5.12 says, wherefore as by one man sin entered into the
world, and death by sin, and so death has passed upon all
men, for that all have sinned. That one which is a nearer of
kin has to be appeased, and the matter settled at the gate of
judgment. We cannot get around this, but
he, Jesus Christ, had to deal with it on his people's behalf.
The one that is nearer of kin cannot give us life. Go back
to Ruth 3 for a minute, if you're still there. Ruth 3, verses 11
through 13. And now, my daughter, fear not. I will do to thee all that thou
requirest, for all the city of my people doth know that thou
art a virtuous woman. And now it is true that I am
thy near kinsman. Howbeit, there is a kinsman nearer
than I. Carry this night, and it shall
be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part
of a kinsman, well, let him do the kinsman's part. But if he
will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, Then will I do the part
of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth. Lie down until the
morning." Boaz stood in our place. He was
not going to let Ruth go and deal with this, as he knew she
could not. Jesus Christ knew we could not
deal with our offense against him, so he dealt with it on our
behalf. There is another thing about
this shoe though. As we saw before, the wife of
the dead brother in Deuteronomy was to go about before the elders
and do this thing. But here in Ruth, Boaz goes before
the elders. Boaz does all the right things
here so that he might have a bride in Ruth. The amazing thing I
see here is the man takes off his own shoe and gives it to
Boaz. Boaz did the transaction to show
and prove that it is he that will redeem the dead to life.
Jesus Christ did what was needed when he came down and made himself
of no reputation and was made a curse and sin for us. He went
to that tree where God the Father pierced him through when we read,
my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Then he himself
announces to us it is finished. The transaction is done, that
great transaction is done. We have a nearer kin who is willing
to redeem us from deadness to life. He redeemed us from a nearer
kin, that law, which kills us and shuts our mouth. It demands
death. Why did this nearer of kin give
Boaz his shoes? What can we see from this? And
I think this is a picture of what we read in 2 Corinthians
3 verses 5 through 9, if you want to turn there. 2 Corinthians
3. 2 Corinthians 3, 5 through 9. For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus'
sake. For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our... I'm in the wrong
chapter again. Okay, chapter three. I said chapter
three, why didn't I go there? Chapter three, verse five, sorry.
not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as
of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God, who also hath made
us able ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter,
but of the Spirit. For the letter killeth, but the
Spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death,
written and engraven in stone, was glorious, so that the children
of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for
the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away. How shall not the ministration
of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation
be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness
exceed in glory. I believe what we see in picture
here in Ruth is the law showing that Christ is more glorious
than the glorious law of Mount Sinai. Christ exceeds in glory. We do not look at the lesser
glory, we look to the greater glory. The law removes its own
shoe, so to speak, to show us the righteousness of God without
the law. So here is what we see from the
account in Ruth. Ruth was brought to Boaz and
she cleaned Boaz. Boaz took Ruth's place to go
to the gate on her behalf. He was not going to leave it
up to Ruth because he loved her, just as Christ loved his church
and gave himself for it. He said to Ruth in Ruth 3 verses
12 and 13, and now it is true that I am thy near kinsman, howbeit
there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this night, and I shall
be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part
of a kinsman well, let him do the kinsman part. But if he will
not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part
of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth, lie down to the
morning. And I like thinking about this
next verse that I'm going to read. This is where we see the
faithfulness of God. And this is good for mothers
to hear this verse too. This is a good mother here that
says this, Ruth 3 verse 18. Then said she, and this is Naomi
speaking to Ruth, sit still, my daughter, until thou know
how the matter will fall. For the man will not be at rest,
be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. Jesus Christ
was faithful and is faithful to perform the duties of an ear
of kin when it comes to his people. He was set like a flint to perform
that great transaction where he would be manifest that he
is the righteousness of God without the law. So back to our text. The law, because of what Christ
did for his people, has no more dominion over us. Verse 4 of
Romans 7. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also
are become dead to the law by the body of Christ. What does
this mean exactly when it says this? His chosen people died
in him because he is their federal head. So when he died, we died. And it goes on, that ye should
be married to another. We cannot be married to another
if we are dead, even to him who is raised from the dead, it says.
We cannot be married to another if we are dead. And then it goes
on to say, even to him who is raised from the dead that we
should bring forth fruit unto God. We could never go to the
gate of judgment because we are dead and we have nothing to redeem
with. We are totally poor, we are totally corrupt, and we have
no way, no hope of changing that in and of ourselves. We have
to have a near of kin, our kinsman redeemer. He had to go up for
us so that he could work out our redemption on that tree.
He was perfect in all that he did, but then he was made a curse
and sin for us. Because of this, he had to die. He was made what I was, so he
had to die. In so doing, and him being our
head, we died with him. His people being in him, we also
died. So then now we are no longer
under the dominion of the law. It has no power against us because
Christ paid that debt of sin. That debt of sin against his
holy law and him. But that is not all. We certainly
died with him, but what else happened? It says in verse 4
of Romans 7, even to him who is raised from the dead. What
do we read back in Romans 6 verses 3 and 4? Know ye not that so
many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into
his death? Therefore we are buried with
him by baptism into death. that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. We are raised with him unto eternal
life. What does it go on to say in
Romans 6 verse 11? Likewise reckon ye also yourselves
to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus
Christ our Lord. We still have this flesh, but
we are told to reckon ourselves to be dead. But we are now alive with him,
and we are now married to him. I am bound to him as my husband,
and I will walk in that newness of life, and not in the oldness
of the letter. If I look to go back to the law,
I am committing spiritual adultery. if you notice that Ruth never
went to the gate. She had nothing to give and could
not acquire anything, but he was willing. That is Boaz as
a picture of Christ. He knew she could not do it,
so he went on behalf of Ruth. There was no time where Boaz
thought, Ruth, maybe you need to go up to the gate because
you need to convince this nearer of kin yourself that he might
redeem you. Then if he does not, then I'll
do it. Absolutely not. He tells Ruth, you stay here
and get some rest. I will handle this thing. If
you turn back to the law, you are saying that Christ is dead
in vain. There was no need for Jesus Christ
to die if the law could or can give life. The law does not give
life before you are brought to know Jesus Christ and it does
not give you life after you know Christ. Jesus Christ is where
we find our life, if we have life. Why do you need the law
if you have Jesus Christ? I'm not looking to the law at
all, because when I do, all I see is condemnation and death. Christ
has made me free from the law of sin and death. But if you turn to the law as
your life in any way and at any time, then you are saying that
Christ is dead and vain. hear the scripture, Galatians
2.21. I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness
come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Jesus Christ
is the righteousness, the life without the law. Romans 3, 21
and 22 we read, but now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,
being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness
of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe, for there is no difference. Remember, Boaz
went up to the gate. He invited the elders to the
gate. There were manifold witnesses to Jesus Christ and his glory.
They are all witnesses to His glory and give witness to Him
being the nearer of kin who has redeemed the people for His name.
He will raise up the name of the dead upon His inheritance
because He can and He has. Folks, I'm here to tell you that
if you're looking to the law that you might keep it and that
it will bring you life before God, then you are under the dominion
of that law. If you stay there, you will perish
because the law cannot give life, period. But if he was pleased
and is pleased that he would take your place at the gate of
judgment, then you are no longer required to do obeisance to the
law. You are free to serve Jesus Christ,
who is our life and who gave us life from the dead. If you
don't know him, all I can tell you to do is to cry out to him.
Those who cry out to him will be heard. He is the near of kin. So those who are his are dead
to the law and married to Christ. Amen. Dear old God, thank you for allowing
us to meet here today, dear Lord. Be with those who could not be
here, dear Lord. Dear Lord, be with those who
are by your power, by your strength, by your grace, or trying to get
the gospel out there, or may it be that you will allow all
your people to support the gospel and to get the gospel out there,
or that they may hear of you because it is you, the only one
that can do anything for a lost sinner. All these things we ask
in Christ's name, amen.