Romans 7:4
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 is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Cross-references
Romans 7:3 provides the marriage law analogy (wife free after husband's death) that Paul applies here to believers dying to the law through Christ.
Romans 7:9 shows how the law once brought death, contrasting with the freedom from law found in Christ's death described here.
Romans 6:14 establishes believers are not under law but under grace — the same principle that Romans 7:4 expands on by explaining we died to the law through Christ.
Romans 6:22 also speaks of bearing fruit after being set free — here fruit leads to sanctification, eternal life.
Romans 8:2 reveals the Spirit's law sets believers free from the law of sin and death — the same freedom from law described in Romans 7:4 as dying to the law.
In Romans 6:7, the same logic applies: death brings freedom from sin's bondage, reinforcing that dying to the law through Christ's body liberates believers.
Galatians 3:13 shows Christ redeemed us from the law's curse — the basis for believers' death to the law in Romans 7:4.
Revelation 21:9 identifies the bride as the New Jerusalem, the final fulfillment of being joined to Christ.
Revelation 19:7 celebrates the marriage of the Lamb, showing the ultimate union hinted at in belonging to Christ.
Colossians 2:14 says Christ canceled the law's record of debt — the same 'death to law' in Romans 7:4, now explained as a legal cancellation.
Colossians 1:6 describes the gospel bearing fruit and increasing, linking the fruit-bearing of believers to the spread of the word.
Ephesians 5:23-27 develops the marriage metaphor: Christ as husband who loves and sanctifies the church, his bride.
Ephesians 2:15 describes Christ abolishing the law of commandments — the same removal of law that enables believers to die to it in Romans 7:4.
Galatians 5:18 states being led by the Spirit means not under law — the same freedom from law that Romans 7:4 describes as dying to the law.
In Psalm 45:10-15, the bride leaves her people to join the king — typifying believers leaving the law to be joined to Christ.
Galatians 2:19 states the same truth: 'through the law I died to the law' — echoing Romans 7:4's death to the law to live to God.
In Isaiah 54:5, God is the husband of Israel — a marriage metaphor that prefigures believers being joined to Christ.
In Isaiah 62:5, God rejoices over His people as a bridegroom — the same union as believers joined to Christ.
In Hosea 2:19, God betroths Israel to Himself forever — a covenant marriage that prefigures believers being joined to Christ.
In Hosea 2:20, the betrothal is sealed in faithfulness — the same marital union anticipated for believers and Christ.
In John 3:29, Jesus is the bridegroom who has the bride — clarifying the marriage imagery of believers joined to Him.
In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul uses the same betrothal image — he betrothed the church as a pure virgin to Christ, echoing belonging to another.
Galatians 2:20 deepens the union: crucified with Christ, now Christ lives in me — the 'belong to another' of Romans 7:4 is this new life in Him.
Colossians 2:12 connects burial and resurrection with Christ to new life, reinforcing the death to law and belonging to the risen Lord here.
Galatians 3:25 declares freedom from the law's guardianship through faith, directly paralleling the death to law and union with Christ here.
Colossians 1:22 describes reconciliation through Christ's death to present believers holy, aligning with dying to law to bear fruit for God.
John 15:8 says bearing much fruit glorifies the Father — same fruit-bearing theme but tied to abiding in Christ.
Philippians 1:11 speaks of fruit of righteousness through Christ — the same fruit-bearing for God's glory.
Galatians 5:22 lists the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace — which is the fruit we bear for God in Christ.
Colossians 2:20 speaks of dying to elemental spirits — a parallel to dying to the law in Romans 7:4, though the object differs slightly.
Galatians 5:23 continues the fruit list with gentleness, self-control — specifying what fruit for God looks like.
Philippians 4:17 values spiritual fruit that accrues to one's account, echoing the fruit-bearing purpose of union with Christ.