The Greater Law

Romans 8:2-4

“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Here, Paul starts to explain why this is true that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. In these Bible studies you could put these passages completely together to speak on them, but it is important to take a step back sometimes and enjoy pieces at a time as little treats we can take with us throughout the week. In this passage we see the new law that was brought into fruition when Jesus was sent to die on the cross. This helps Paul to have a defense for why there is no condemnation for him when he is struggling with his flesh. He is now under a new law which is in the spirit that is freedom in Jesus Christ.

Paul continues what it means to be in Christ Jesus as we see that he has fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law. We can see that the law of the spirit can only be unlocked by Jesus because He is God who had to come in sinful flesh to condemn our sin in the flesh by dying on the cross. He did not do it for Himself, He did it for us. Now it is important to note what Paul states as the point of this passage— we who walk now do not walk according to the flesh of the spirit. We are no longer under condemnation which enables us to walk in spirit, the Holy Spirit helping to tell us what to do, not in the flesh as those that are in the world do.

               In our own lives we can see how we need to be ruled by the greater law, the law of the spirit. Sometimes, as Christians, we can still get caught up in the flesh making decisions as if we are not in Christ Jesus. It is important that we do not live like this—but how is this possible? Well, living in the spirit means bringing all of our thoughts and decisions to God. This means having an active prayer life and studying God’s word. We cannot expect ourselves to be any different than the flesh if we don’t keep our minds focused on the Holy Spirit who is our helpmate. If you are someone who is not in Christ Jesus, He is there for you. He wants to set you free from the law of the flesh and the guilt associated with it. He is calling you today to be people under the greater law, the law of the Spirit. All that is required is you ask Him to set you free and He will right this very moment.