Romans 8:=
1-2 There is now then no condemnation to those who are in =
Christ
Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from =
the
law of sin and of death.
Because w=
e are
made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26) we have an inner man that
delights and corresponds to the very nature of God (Rom 7:22). With our mind we serve the law of =
God,
however, with our flesh we serve the law of sin (Rom 7:25). When we confront the law of God ou=
r mind
will always agree that we should do the good. Our emotions and will join in agre=
ement
with our mind. But when our m=
embers
are enlisted to do the good the sin dwelling in our flesh becomes enlivened=
and
overpowers our mind to bring us into captivity. This failure, this weakness result=
s in condemnation. It is God’s intention in giv=
ing us
the law to expose the sinful law within us.
What captives need is to be set free from this
powerful law of sin and of death.
We need to be delivered from the one who has captured us and held us=
in
bondage. So Paul was looking =
for
the WHO not the “what” or the “how”. Today there are thousands of self =
help
books, programs and seminars that try to help us in what we should do or ho=
w we
should do it. But Paul in this
gospel of Romans brings us to the WHO – Christ Jesus.
This gospel is concerning a person, the WHO,
God’s son Jesus Christ our Lord who came out of the seed of David
according to the flesh and was designated the Son of God in power according=
to
the Spirit of holiness out of the resurrection of the dead (Rom 1:3-4). Before Christ Jesus shed His blood=
on
the cross, we had no power, no hope and even no possibility to overpower the
sin in our flesh. However, si=
nce
His death on the cross His propitiating blood has answered all of God’=
;s
righteous requirements eliminating any condemnation from God. And in His resurrection according =
to the
Spirit of holiness Christ Jesus is now designated the Son of God in power.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Therefore, to every one who believ=
es
this gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16).
As captives, we needed the power of God in the person of Christ Jesus
according to the Spirit of holiness to save us from such a strong powerful
captor. Today there is a new =
power,
a stronger force, a higher law in this universe. This law has the power to overpowe=
r the
sin in our flesh. This is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. We have been baptiz=
ed,
immersed into Christ Jesus (Rom 6:3).
That is where we are today.
We are in Him and in Him there is a higher more powerful law that
operates.
There is now no condemnation to those who are in
Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is=
now
and we are in Him now. Forget=
about
the past. In Christ Jesus the=
law
of the Spirit of life frees, liberates, and emancipates us from the law of =
sin
and of death. In Christ Jesus=
a new
law is constantly, every moment, without hesitation operating by freeing us
from the law of sin and of death.
It is a law and cannot be altered. This is powerful! That is what is=
happening
in Christ Jesus.
Not to go in is the secret. But that I am already in!.. I am i=
n,
already in Thee! What a place=
to
which I’m brought!
There’s no need for prayer or struggling, God Himself the work=
has
wrought (hymn 561). Glorious Freedom, wonderful freedom, no more in chains =
of
sin I repine. Jesus the glori=
ous
Emancipator now and forever He shall be mine (hymn 310)!<=
span
lang=3DEN style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN'=
>