An Illustration from Marriage

7 Since I am speaking to those who understand law, brothers,^(A) are you unaware that the law has authority over someone as long as he lives? ² For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives.^(B) But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. ³ So then, if she gives herself to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she gives herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.

⁴ Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death^(C) in relation to the law^(D) through the crucified body of the Messiah,^(E) so that you may belong to another—to Him who was raised from the dead—that we may bear fruit for God.

²⁴ The law, then, was our guardian^[a] until Christ,^(A) so that we could be justified by faith.

⁵ to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.^(A)