Pages

Monday 23 July 2012

Romans 8:1-4 - A new and living way

"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ." Let us look at this verse more closely. First, why is there condemnation in the first place? There is condemnation because of what we have done, and the guilt incurred because of this. Then there is condemnation because we know what is right, but we find ourselves unable to do what is right, and we end up doing what is wrong. 
So how do we gain freedom from this condemnation? Well, it is not through the law of sin and death, it is not through living by the principle of Law, ie knowing what is right, and then trying to meet these requirements in our own strength. This just brings sin and death. The Law was powerless to bring life because our sinful nature made it impossible for us to meet the requirements. We could not do away with our already accumulated guilt, nor could we start to live the right way.
So God sent His own Son. He became a sin offering, taking away our guilt. Note then that Paul goes on to say "the righteous requirements of the Law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh, but according to the spirit". So it is not just a matter of our guilt being paid for, but we start to become able to live lives pleasing to God. Justification and sanctification go together. They are part of the package of salvation.

No comments:

Post a Comment