The accused is dead

Sunday October 9, 2022

The accused is dead

Don't you know, brethren, for I speak to people who know the law, that the law exercises its power over a man as long as he lives ? Romans 7:1

Pierre Chanal committed suicide on the first day of his trial. After a long investigation, he had been indicted for several horrific murders. Everything was ready for his trial : the courtroom was reserved for the scheduled duration of the proceedings ; the families of the victims had taken a few days off and traveled to the town where the trial was taking place ; the lawyers had prepared their pleadings ; the newspapers had planned special articles on the affair... The suicide of Pierre Chanal immediately stopped the action brought against him. He is dead ; the trial is over before it has begun; no need to ask for a heavy prison sentence against him : there is no longer anyone to put behind bars. The courtroom is free and human justice no longer has any power.

The apostle Paul uses the same example in his discussion of the Law in Romans. Each of us was under the authority of the law of God, whether expressed through the law of Moses or any other law. And this Law inevitably condemned us : the charges against us were too heavy and the outcome of the trial was certain. How to escape the verdict ? The only solution is to be done with ourselves, that is, to die. Once dead, no action can reach us !

This is exactly what happened at the cross of Christ : I was identified with Christ on the cross and it is as if I had died with him. This historical fact, which I grasp by faith, totally frees me from the condemnation of the Law. As Paul expresses it a few verses later : Ye have been put to death by the Body of Christ concerning the Law... now we have been made free from the Law, having died to this Law (Romans 7: 4.6).

Let us no longer be afraid of the Law : it can no longer do anything against us. The fact that we died with Christ is enough to render it totally inoperative.

But the analogy with the dark story of Pierre Chanal ends there. Because for us, there is an additional step : our death with Christ is not an end ! We are also resurrected with him, living no longer in a domain where the Law operates, but in a kingdom of love where grace reigns. And now we are free to bear fruit for God and serve him in newness of spirit (Romans 7:4,6).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)