Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
What is the law of the spirit of life in
Christ Jesus? What is the law of sin and death? In Romans chapter 8 we are
given a contrast between the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the
law of sin and death. So the above questions remain, what exactly are these
laws? My answer, they're both the same law. The difference is Christ Jesus.
Jesus of Nazareth makes all the difference between life and death. Where does
the condemnation come from? It comes, and rightly so from law established
righteousness. With law established righteousness, you are either righteous or
you are not. James goes on to explain that in regards to Law righteousness,
that if you break one command, you end up breaking the law. So then, in simple
terms the law of sin and death refers to a particular use of the law. If the
law is used to establish righteousness by behavior it cannot be anything but
the law of sin and death. The reason is that no one can fulfill the SHEMA. The
Shema is found in Deuteronomy.
Deu 6:4-9 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6) And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (8) You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (9) You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
When you look at the Shema, you see the
command to love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might. All
means all! It is impossible to fulfill this commandment… It simply cannot be done.
However, add Jesus Christ to the scenario,
his willingness to die on the cross to prove the eternal love of God, and all
at once, faith in God's eternal love will produce supernaturally the ability to
fulfill the Shema. You cannot help but love God once you realize that he first
and foremost loves you… Loves you so much… That he sent Jesus to prove his love.
This is precisely why the writer first John said that it is not that we loved
God (not that we fulfill the Shema) but that he first loved us and gave his son
is a propitiation for our missing the mark. It was with the Shema in mind that
first John 4:10 was penned.
1John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God
but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
This is precisely the way that the law of
sin and death becomes law the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. It is by God's
grace. Therefore, there is no condemnation what so ever… Not ever! This becomes
the catalyst for transforming love within the believer. This becomes the source
of all obedience. We obey the Shema supernaturally because we believe that he
really truly loved and loves us.
I have been told my whole life that walking after the flesh was doing sinful things, and walking after the Spirit was obeying the law. I can see clearly now that understanding the meaning of flesh (read and do mentality) and Spirit (accepting what Christ did for us, resting in him) changes everything. I can read it so clearly now. Thank You
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