In Christ - prt 8

Rom 8:2 For the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.

There is an higher law in operation in the life of the Believer in Christ. It is the "law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus".

The Old Covenant Law is referred to as the "law of sin and death" in the above passage of the bible. Does this mean that the law given to Moses by angels (Heb 2:2; Gal 3:19; Acts 7:53) in the old covenant was evil? Absolutely not!

Galatians 3:21,

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness SHOULD HAVE been by the law.

The law was in itself righteous and good if it could be kept by man one hundred percent. But this was impossible for all men until Christ came who was righteous in the Spirit but also proved righteous by the law because He did not sin even once though tempted (Heb 4:15).The law was righteous but it could not make men righteous, in this it was weak through the flesh, and consequently could not give man dominion and victory over sin (Rom 8:3); it could not impart Life.

Galatians 3:19,

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was ADDED because of TRANSGRESSIONS, TILL the SEED[Jesus] should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained BY ANGELS in the hand of a MEDIATOR[Moses].

It was never in the plan of God to give man a set of rules that He knew they lack the capacity to keep.

The law was added; like a detour, to beam it's righteous light on sin that was in man(his nature) so that mankind could see the inevitable need for a Savior and Deliverer. You see man was self deluded thinking there were righteous, comparing themselves with one another, not knowing that God's standard or righteousness was way higher. So the law came to bring man from this deception.

It was added to be a school master to the people till Jesus the promised seed of Abraham should come. Galatians 3:24-27,


24 Wherefore the law WAS our SCHOOLMASTER to BRING US unto CHRIST, that we might be justified BY FAITH.
25 But after that faith is come, we are NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER.
26 For ye are ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
27 For AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST.

Now the Law is no longer a schoolmaster over the Believer in Christ. The Believer now operates with a new kind of law in his spirit, "law of the Spirit of Life".

The Law was also a strengthener of sin, 1 Corintians 15:56:

56  The sting of death is sin; and THE STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW.

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet[lust after].
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought[produced] in me all manner of concupiscence[wrong desires]. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And THE COMMANDMENT, which WAS ORDAINED TO LIFE, I FOUND TO BE UNTO DEATH.
11 For SIN, taking occasion by the commandment, DECEIVED ME, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore THE LAW IS HOLY, AND THE COMMANDMENT HOLY, AND JUST, AND GOOD.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; THAT SIN BY THE COMMANDMENT MIGHT BECOME EXCEEDING SINFUL.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

It is evident through the above verses of the bible that the law renders a man powerless against  sin. It allows the man to wallow in condemnation, because all the Law needed to do was to identify sin in the man for the man to see, but supplying him with nothing with which he could fight against the sin, thereby strengthening the very sin against him.

So the commandment that was to make the man under sin realize the extent to which he had fallen, was taken advantage of by the very sin to work in the man all manner and kinds of lust for abominable and forbidden things.

It is common knowledge that without law there would be lawlessness. Some say that it is laws that separate humans from animals. But the bible reveals that law works in a man to bring forth more wicked acts, because the more he sees what he is not permitted to do, the more his body would lust after doing it.

Is the Believer in Christ lawless? Absolutely not! The Believer in Christ is ruled by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus that dwells on the inside of him or her. What is this law?

It should be noted first that the Believer in Christ is not subject to any kind of spelt out law, or rudiment, or tradition; he has liberty, but he is not to use this liberty to indulge in the lust of the flesh but to work all manner of righteous acts. His very nature exudes righteousness.

He is instructed also from the Word  to obey and respect the authority set over him and the law they represent (Rom 13:1-7).

The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is the "Royal Law of Love" that is written in the heart of the Believer in Christ (James 2:8)

This means that the Believer is not under any pressure whatsoever to keep external laws because his or her new nature is now dominated by love which constrains him or her from working unrighteousness, 2 Corintians 5:14:

2Cor 5:14 For THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONSTRAINETH US; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

So this new law in the Believer (written upon the tables of their heart, 2Cor 3:3; Heb 10:16)teaches him or her how to carry his or herself in every situation.

Hebrews 8:10-12,

7 For if that FIRST COVENANT had been FAULTLESS, then should no place have been sought for the SECOND.

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MIND, AND WRITE THEM IN THEIR HEARTS: AND I WILL BE TO THEM A GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE TO ME A PEOPLE:

11 AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERY MAN HIS NEIGHBOUR, AND EVERY MAN HIS BROTHER, SAYING, KNOW THE LORD: FOR ALL SHALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

The Believer now knows right from wrong intrinsically without being taught; he or she has become a walking and living law of God. It is now part of his or her nature. This is the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. If Jesus Christ is the Word, then the Believer in Christ is the word. So when a Believer does right he or she is not trying to obey sets of rule, they are simply fulfilling who there are.

Were you blessed.

Confess this: The liberty I have in Christ is to be used by me to live the aboundant life and to work all manner of good works pleasing to the Father. I am no longer under the Law to be ruled by sin but I am under Grace.