Wednesday | 04 March 2026
The carnal man, through the other law, presumes to take hold of the Law of God, using it to justify their expectations and judgements of others, including their spouse.
Highlighting the relationship between the law of our mind and the Law of God, Paul wrote, ‘I agree with the Law that it is good’; and ‘I delight in the Law of God according to the inner man’. Rom 7:16,22. When it is misappropriated, the Law itself becomes the strength and power of God that energises the other law, giving rise to jealous fury. This was acutely demonstrated by the chief priests in the court of Caiaphas, who used the Law to justify the brutal beating of Christ. Mat 26:65-67. When the Law is misappropriated in this manner, it becomes a person’s judge. They are dying on the cross under its wrath in the manner of the unrepentant thief. The unresolved relational ferment leads to identity dystrophy and bitterness, which is the foretaste of eternal torment.
The operation of another law is an implication of the fall of mankind, and is an infirmity that affects every person. Satan fathered in our minds the lie that we could have life from the basis of self-centredness. He proposed that this would happen as an identity-verifying action if we set our minds on achieving the life that we desire through the energy and insight that comes from the knowledge of good and evil. Gen 3:4-6. This is what it means to be ‘carnally minded’. Rom 8:6-8.
A marriage established on the principles of the flesh is in a wretched condition, being controlled by nets and bands. Solomon described such a relationship as ‘more bitter than death’. Ecc 7:26. The nets of self-centred romantic projection, and the bands of a selfish covenant, provoke jealousy, or envy, and wrath. On account of the Fall, these dynamics are in every marriage.
Further Study:
Romans 7
References:
Rom 7:16
If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the Law that it is good.
Rom 7:22
For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man.
Mat 26:65-67
Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?’ They answered and said, ‘He is deserving of death.’ Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Gen 3:4-6
Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Rom 8:6-8
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Ecc 7:26
And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be trapped by her.