The Bondage That Sets You Free

There’s a kind of freedom that destroys — and a kind of bondage that saves. That paradox sits at the heart of Romans 7, where Paul turns from our slavery to sin to our bondage to the law — and from both, to the freedom found in Christ. 

Every person longs for freedom. We chase it in autonomy, success, and self-expression. Yet for all our striving, the freedom we crave keeps slipping through our fingers. We break away from one master only to discover we’ve become bound to another. Beneath our language of liberty is an ancient truth: every soul serves something. The only question is whom. That’s what Paul exposes in Romans 7. He takes our longing for freedom and righteousness and brings it face to face with God’s law and His grace. Once, he used the image of a slave and his master. Now, he paints with the picture of marriage. 

“Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” 

— Romans 6:14 

To be under the law is not merely to strive morally — it’s to live in bondage to sin. But to be under grace is to be set free for life in the Spirit. The law itself isn’t the problem; it is, as Paul says, holy and righteous and good (Romans 7:12). The problem is us — our weak flesh that cannot keep it. Paul knew this deeply. As a Pharisee, he kept every rule, yet discovered that true righteousness wasn’t in law-keeping, but in Christ. 

“Through the law comes knowledge of sin.” 

— Romans 3:20 

Bound by Law, Freed by Death 

Paul begins simply: “The law rules over someone as long as he lives.” (Romans 7:1) To explain, he uses marriage: a woman is bound to her husband while he lives, but free when he dies. The law binds us the same way — it rules, exposes, convicts, but cannot redeem. It can diagnose sin, but it cannot cure it. So Paul makes his point: to belong to Christ, something drastic must happen. Death. Spiritually, that means dying to the law through union with Christ’s death. Only then are we free to belong to another — to the risen Lord. 

Released for Service

“You also were put to death in relation to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another… to Him who was raised from the dead.” — Romans 7:4 

Death with Christ frees us for life with Christ — and that life bears fruit for God. We no longer serve by the old letter of the law, but in the newness of the Spirit. This is not a passive union, but a purposeful one. It moves us from striving to serving, from death to life. Think Romans 12: a life that breathes grace — living sacrifice, renewed mind, genuine love, radical generosity, even blessing enemies. That’s not law-keeping. That’s Spirit-living. 

The Only Bondage That Sets You Free 

The law can expose sin, but it cannot save. It either puffs up pride or plunges us into despair. Maybe you know that tension — faithful, busy, committed, yet still trying to earn what Christ freely gives. Friend, that’s a dangerously high view of your own ability and a tragically low view of Christ’s sufficiency. And if you’re not trusting Him at all, you may not even see your slavery. But pause for a bit. Are you truly free? The world’s version of freedom — chasing happiness, autonomy, indulgence — always leads back to bondage. Pleasure turns to dependence. “Freedom” to sin ends in ruin. 

There’s a freedom that destroys, and a freedom that gives life. The first serves self. The second serves Christ. The question isn’t whether you’ll serve something — it’s whether what you serve will lead to death or to life in Him. 

From Mr. Law to Mr. Grace 

Ray Ortlund once captured it this way: 

“We were married to Mr. Law. He was a good man, but he did not understand our weakness. He always said, ‘Do better tomorrow.’ We couldn’t. Then Mr. Law died — thankfully — and we remarried, this time to Mr. Grace. Our new husband, Jesus, comes home and the house is a mess. Yet He sweeps us into His arms and says, ‘I love you. I chose you. I will never leave you.’ Being married to Mr. Law never changed us. But being married to Mr. Grace is finally changing us — and it shows.” 

That’s Romans 7 in one breathtaking image: the law commands, but only Christ can change. The law says, “Do better tomorrow.” Grace says, “It is finished.” 

True Freedom

Christ didn’t free you to drift. He freed you to serve. 

He didn’t deliver you from duty — He delivered you from dead duty. Now, united to Him, you bear fruit for God and serve in the newness of the Spirit. 

The law can tell you what to do. Grace gives you the heart to do it. And that’s real freedom — not the freedom to live for yourself, but the freedom to live for the One who loved you first.