Romans 7:4 : Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. This is the application of the principle set forth in the marriage illustration. They became dead to the law that they might be joined, or married, to Christ. They became dead to the law through the body of Christ--that is, through the death of the body of Christ. It would be difficult to understand how they became dead to the law through the body of Christ were it not for light gained from other passages. People became dead to the law when it ended, or was abolished. "For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Ephesians 2:14-16). The law of Moses is here called the enmity between Jew and Gentile, because it acted as a barrier between them. Paul here affirms that this enmity was slain by the cross, or by the death of Christ on the cross. "Having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:14). The law had dominion over those under it so long as it lived, but it was abolished at the cross. They then became dead to it, for it no longer had dominion over them. It is well to notice that this passage definitely settles two things: (1) They were not married to Christ before his death the law was taken out of the way at the cross that they might be joined to the risen Christ. (2) When Paul wrote this letter, these Roman brethren had been joined to Christ. That is made clear by the fact stated: that they were joined to Christ that they might bring forth fruit unto God It is certain that Chris-tians are expected to bear fruit in this life. But the marriage, or joining, to Christ precedes the fruit bearing. Romans 7:6 shows that the bearing of fruit is done in serving God in newness of the spirit. Besides, if the closeness of the relationship that existed between Jehovah and the Jews was spoken of as a marriage, certainly the closer union between Christ and his fol-lowers would also be spoken of as a marriage. In an-other place Paul uses the marriage relationship to il-lustrate the close union between Christ and the church (See Ephesians 5:22-33). Notice specially Ephesians 5:23 : "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the Church, being himself the Savior of the body." Here is a comparison: The husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church in the same manner as Christ is head of the church. How could that be if, as some say, the church is now only espoused to Christ? That Paul in this entire passage is using the marriage relation to illustrate the relationship existing between Christ and the church is evident to any unbiased reader. Ephesians 5:32 shows conclusively that such is his purpose: "This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church." So, then, in speaking of husband and wife, he was by way of illustration speaking of Christ and the church