Two Laws

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom. 8:2)

This verse in Romans speaks of two laws, the Mosaic Law, “the law of sin and death” and the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”  The Mosaic Law itself is holy.  Paul wasn’t saying it wasn’t.  It is man’s disobedience to the laws, statutes, and ordinances which bring sin and, therefore, death.  Our sin nature causes us to resist the Law.  If sin wasn’t attractive, we wouldn’t do it.  So, we rebel rather than obey.

The Mosaic Law wasn’t given to make life miserable for the Jews.  God wasn’t on a power trip.  Sin is anything we do which does not align with God’s nature.  The Mosaic Law gives us an idea of God’s nature and how impossible it is for man to align with it on his own.

The Mosaic Law provided several lessons.  Among these was the lesson that man can’t make perfection on his own no matter how hard he tries.  A second lesson is that we now know the character of God more clearly, what it means to be holy, and “we ain’t it.”  The Greek word for “guardian” in Galatians 3:24 means a sort of nanny or tutor, a guardian who is also an educator.  So, while the Law watched over God’s people, it also was meant to educate them in the ways of God.

²⁴ So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (Gal 3:24-26)

I need to mention the Holy Spirit’s role at this point.  In the Old Testament times, the believer was not always filled with the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit would come and go as it did with Samson:

 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. (Judges 16:20 see also Ps. 51:11)

Today, as Christians, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit in us.

¹³ In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:13-14)

So, two thousand years ago, Jesus came to earth in the form of a man and changed things.  No longer does man have to follow a set of specific rules and sacrifices.  No longer can man say “I can do this on my own” either.  Now God has provided the perfect sacrifice that covers the sins of all humanity.  The Holy Spirit enters into the Christian as our Teacher and Guardian to guide us in our walk with God.

Why is this important?

This is important because many Christians are still living under the law of sin and death.  We think the things we do for God somehow add to our favor with God or somehow make up for our sins: kind of a quid pro quo.  Many of us believe we are just going to make it to heaven by the skin of our teeth, and a little time working in the church nursery, dropping something extra in the offering on Sunday, or helping an old lady across the street will gain favor with God, and He’ll forget our sin.  It doesn’t work that way.

Our God is a God of grace.  He forgave us the moment we gave our lives over to Him.  Our sins still upset the relationship with have with Him, but He is quick to forgive when we confess our sins.

So, live a gracious life.  Seek to obey rather than sacrifice.  It will improve your life and your relationship with God and others.

²² And Samuel said,

       “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

       Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

and to listen than the fat of rams  (1 Sam 15:22)