Those Who Are Set Free from the Law of Sin and Death

2007-12-01 21:02

"because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2).

Those who believe in Jesus are apart from sin because God did away with all sin through the blood of Jesus. It is written, "And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Romans 11:27).

The old covenant is the covenant of curse, and the new covenant is the covenant of blessing. Therefore, the Bible calls the ministry of Moses the ministry of condemnation, and the ministry of Jesus the ministry of righteousness. It is written, "If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!" (2 Corinthians 3:9).

When Jesus said, "It is finished," and his spirit returned to the Father, the sin and the world came to an end. It is written, "...But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 9:26). And also, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14).

A farmer plows a field to sow seeds. Likewise, the world and the law of sin were plowed by the cross, and now they are gone. Therefore, it is written, "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (John 16:9-11).

Now, of sin, they do not believe in Jesus who did away wth the world and sin; of righteousness, Jesus did away with the world and sin, and returned to the Father, and you can see him no more. of sin, "they" do not believe in Jesus; of righteousness, "you" believe in Jesus. Because "they" do not believe in Jesus, they belong to the world. Because "you" believe in Jesus, you do not belong to the world.

Therefore, Jesus whom they regarded according to the flesh is no longer in the world. Jesus in the flesh did away with the world and sin, and returned to the Father. It is written, "Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer." (2 Corinthians 5:16). and also, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Therefore, there is no sin in faith. It is written, "Then he adds: 'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.' And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." (Hebrews 10:17-18).

We cannot see Jesus in the flesh anymore but we can see him in the Spirit again. So I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. It is written, "Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:19).

Therefore, the faith that accomplishes righteousness is the faith in God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. That is the very faith in the Lord Jesus. Righteousness is not about committing no sin; Forgiveness and love are righteousness. Sin came to an end in the love of Jesus who came in the flesh, and righteousness is accomplished in us through Christ who has come again in the Spirit.

God does not seek those who commit no sin, but those who love just as His son did. And so now, there are His many sons rather than His only son. It is written, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29).

Righteousness is not about committing no sin; mercy and love are righteousness. It is written, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" (Matthew 18:33). Where there are no mercy and love, there is still death. It is written, "because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" (James 2:13).

Righteousness exists where we forgive, not where we are forgiven. It is written, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matthew 6:12).

Therefore, the Bible says, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:14).

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16). Amen. Thank you, Lord.