Thinking Like a Christian

A series of Scripture meditations on what the Bible teaches about the Christian life.

by Pastor Pete Beck III

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The Law of the Spirit of Life

For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 (NET1)
 
It's easy to read verses from the Bible without deeply pondering what they mean. Exactly what is the "the law of the life-giving Spirit?" Some translations use these words - "the law of the Spirit of life." Whichever way you go, the meaning is the same: there is a law of life available in the Holy Spirit which has already set us free from the enslaving power of sin.
 
Paul arrives at this conclusion after detailing how Christ has delivered us from the power of sin and the condemning power of the Law in the sixth and seventh chapters of Romans. Romans 8 begins with these grand words:
 
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NET1)
 
The inescapable conclusion one must take from Romans 6 and 7 is that Christ has delivered us from all condemnation. This agrees with Christ's own words in the Gospel of John.
 
I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 (NET1)
 
The reason believers no longer need fear condemnation is because Jesus took our condemnation upon himself on the cross. Those who trust in Christ were actually "in Christ" when he died and rose again by God's amazing work of identification. As a result, all believers died Christ's death and rose again in his overcoming resurrection life. For us Jesus has become the Resurrection and the Life. Since in Christ we have already died for our sins, there is therefore now no longer any condemnation awaiting us. You cannot die for your sins twice. Likewise, because Christ has risen in triumph over sin and death, we, too, through being identified with him, have risen in newness of life. We too have received the victory over sin and death.
 
Now these things are all very glorious sounding and are actually true; so, then, why does our experience not always measure up to our theology? Why do we not enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God every day? What is missing in our understanding and in our faith? Surely God is not deficient in his willingness or ability to enforce these Biblical truths. Something must be wrong with us.
 
Paul gave us a clue in his letter to the Galatians. He wrote:
 
If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NET1)
 
There is Truth and there is truth. By that I mean that what is true in God may not be true in our actual experience. We must make the choice to walk in the law of the Spirit of life and obedience to God by believing in the power of Christ's finished work and the ability of God's Spirit within us. When we make the choice to obey while trusting in God's enabling strength, we are promised that the grace of God will enable us to follow through to the end.
 
So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh 13 (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. Romans 8:12-13 (NET1)
 
The law of the spirit of life in Christ gives every believer the ability or potential to live a life of obedience. For this to become our experience, however, we must choose life over death, the works of the spirit over the works of the flesh, faith over disobedience. That is why character is so important. As the Spirit develops the character of Christ within us, we learn to say no to sin and yes to Christ. We learn self-control and perseverance. The fear of God is established in our lives.
 
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. 12 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-13 (NET1)
 
God has beautifully designed salvation so that our life in Christ is an interplay between our faith and God's grace, our obedience and God's ability. When we make the choice to walk with God, we find that his grace has been there all along. We will experience the law of the spirit of life in Christ.

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