The Law of the Spirit of Life
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This week Dr. and Pastor Tim Keller passed away from cancer. He was a man used by God to reach many many people with the gospel. He was good friends with John Piper. And John Piper made a video describing the last email correspondence he had with his friend Tim Keller before he passed away.
In his last hours of this life Dr. Keller found the most comfort in a passage of Scripture from the gospel of Luke.
In Luke 10 we have the account of the seventy-two that were sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. When those seventy-two returned, they returned to Jesus with great joy. Do you know why they were so joyful? They were filled with joy because according to v. 17 they said, “even the demons are subject to us in your name.”
Jesus’ response to this statement sets the tone for our sermon this morning. Listen to how Jesus responds to them. He sent his disciple out to preach the good news, he uniquely empowered them to perform miracles to show the validity of their message. They were given heavenly power to heal the sick and to cast our demons. And they rejoiced in that power. But Jesus wisely redirects their joy.
Luke 10:20 (ESV)
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. This is the Scripture that Brother Keller found peace in his last moments on earth.
And John Piper said it very eloquently. He passed on this word of encouragement from his friend to the younger generation of pastors. He said this,
“By all means do your Biblical exegesis, by all means do your cultural exegesis, by all means preach the Word of God with all your heart, by all means love your church care for the flock. But under all that, in all that, above all that, be more thrilled that you are saved than you are successful. Take more delight in the Savior than in His service.”
This I believe is exactly what the Apostle Paul is trying to convey in Romans 8.
Paul wanted the Romans Christians to rejoice in the Holy Spirit guaranteed life of their salvation.
Friends, the Holy Spirit guaranteed life of our salvation ought to thrill our hearts more than anything else in life.
We must be thrilled by our salvation more than anything else in life.
Paul focuses on two words in this text to convey the joy of our salvation.
12x’s- Holy Spirit
10x’s- life, live, raised
And the joy of this text is bound up also in the verbs that Paul chooses. He does not choose verbs like you must, or work on, our do- Instead he chooses verbs like you are, God will, God has. In order words Paul fills this text full of promises and statements of our position. And it reinforces the joyful message of God’s grace that your salvation is not dependent upon your performance, but upon God’s promises!
You can rejoice in your salvation because of the assurance you have in it. Because it is all God’s grace and not even a drop of your performance. Friends, that ought to thrill your soul!
What soul stirring truths does Paul want us to rejoice in concerning our salvation?
1. For those who are in Christ there is a binding authority or power at work which guarantees everlasting life.
1. For those who are in Christ there is a binding authority or power at work which guarantees everlasting life.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1–11 (NA28)
1Οὐδὲν ἄρα νῦν κατάκριμα[1]
Therefore, there is now NO condemnation (NO death-sentence, cf. 7:24)
τοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.[2]
for the ones in Christ Jesus.
Used in a sense of judgement or legal decision. In the heavenly courtroom where God the Righteous judge sits in just perfect judgment, the one in Christ has no legal basis for which to suffer God’s condemnation or punishment.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Textual Variant- Many early manuscripts end the verse with “Christ Jesus,” but some early manuscripts and later related witnesses continue, “who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” This is a clarification of what it means to be “in Christ Jesus” in order be more precise about to whom the lack of condemnation applies. Many (Metzger, Omanson, Comfort) point to Rom 8:4 as influence for later scribal inclusion of these phrases.
Why is it for the ones IN CHRIST there is no condemnation or there is no death-sentence?
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Because of the law of the Spirit of life!
Paul uses the word “law” two times in this text. And we must be careful to determine how Paul uses law here. I do not think Paul is using law to refer to the Mosaic law here. Rather, it seems better to understand both uses of law to refer to the idea of a power, or a binding authority, or an absolute truth woven into the fabric of creation.
Paul is speaking positionally here. He is delighting in our new position in Christ.
V. 1- NO CONDEMNATION for those IN CHRIST JESUS (that’s a positional statement) For those who have been united to Christ those are the ones who have nothing to fear.
V. 2- Set you free IN CHRIST JESUS, again Paul is speaking positionally.
Paul is painting us a picture of two different positions. And every single person who has ever lived falls into one of these two position.
You are either IN CHRIST JESUS and therefore in this position you have the law of the Spirit of life working on your behalf. Because of your position there is an absolute authority or power that is working on your behalf.
Or you are outside of Christ and therefore in this position you have the law of sin and death working on your behalf. Because of your position there is an absolute authority or power that is working on your behalf.
Paul just finished describing what the law of sin and death does in one’s life.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
Here is what Paul means:
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
Because of the sinful nature that we all inherit from Adam, and because that sinful nature causes the unbeliever to be enslaved to sin, and that sinful nature dwells within us, the unbeliever is under the power of the law of sin and death. There may be the desire to do what is good, but there is NO ABILITY to carry it out.
And because of this position and this law at work against us this is all we have to look forward to.
5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
Old Man position from chapter 5.
Because of our connection with the first Adam. Because through Adam we were all made sinners. Because sin came into the world through the one man, Adam, and death came in as well, and because of our connection to Adam through birth, sin and death has spread (like a disease) to everyone else who has ever lived.
And in this position- in our connection to Adam- we are in the dominion of death and under the reign of sin.
New Man position from chapter 5.
But for those who are now IN CHRIST. In a new position, the position of the new man, where the grace of God and the free gift of God much more have abounded for many. Because of our connection to Christ we have been made righteous.
And in this position- in our union with Jesus—we are in the dominion of righteousness and under the reign of grace.
This is how Paul describe our position in chapter 5.
Now he works out the descriptions of these two positions in chapters 6-7
Further description in ch 6-7
The Old Man position- we were sold under sin, no ability to do the good I want, enslaved to sin, under the power of the law of sin and death, bound by the power of the law, sin dwells within me, captive to the law of sin, wretched.
This is the the position of being connected to the law of sin and death. This is the hopelessness for anyone outside of Christ.
But now we are in a new position. We have been united to Christ, we are in Christ and because of that we are positionally a new man!
The New Man position- died to sin, united with Christ, Crucified with Christ, no longer enslaved to sin, now we are under a new law- the law of the Spirit of life, slaves of righteousness, NO CONDEMNATION, set free from sin, alive to God, under grace. Praise God! You are this Christian. You were made this the moment you were united to Christ through salvation. Take a moment and rejoice in who you are!
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Illustration: Brothers and sisters- refugees in one of the “Stan” countries. They need something called a green card. This card gives them refugee status. Without this if they are captured or detained they get sent back to Afghanistan and into the hands of wicked and evil men without question.
But, the green card isn’t all that special. They were still not citizens they couldn’t work, they couldn’t do anything. And ultimately they were still in danger of eventual deportation. Constantly looming over their heads.
What we wanted to do was get them to USA or to Canada and once they were here then they could apply for refugee status. And once they had refugee status then they could no longer be touched. They position would be changed drastically!
I was teaching these dear brothers and sisters in Christ Ecclesiology. And one of the pictures of the church we looked at was the church as a nation or a people of God. I Peter 2:9 says that church saints are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people fore his own possession. And in one of those Holy Spirit led moments, I look at those dear saints and I said you are part of God’s nation, we are all fellow citizens together of His kingdom. Do you know what that means? No more green card. And they got the biggest smiles and they cheered.
Friend this is what Paul wants you to cheer about. This ought to bring a smile to your face.
You are, in your position IN CHRIST, under a new law. You are under a new binding authority, you are under a new absolute truth woven into the fabric of creation. You are now under the power of the Spirit of life. And this new authority, this new power has set you free! In Christ YOU ARE free from the law of sin and death!
You have a new binding power or authority at work in your life that has set you free and guaranteed for you everlasting life in Christ.
Rejoice in your salvation believer. Your names are written in heaven.
Your freedom from sin is entirely dependent upon what Christ has already done for you.
What other soul stirring truth does Paul want us to rejoice in concerning our salvation?
So let’s ask another question. What has made these great statements in vv. 1-2 possible for the Christian? NO condemnation? Set free? Under a new law, the law of the Spirit of life? How can this be? And this question will prepare our hearts to continue our joyous celebration at the Lord’s supper.
How is such a great salvation possible for the Christian?
2. Your salvation is assured because of what God has done for you not what you have done yourself.
2. Your salvation is assured because of what God has done for you not what you have done yourself.
This absolute authority, this binding power that Paul calls the law of the Spirit of life that has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death is possible only because of what God has already done for you.
Romans 8:3 (ESV)
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,
Christian you are under the law of the Spirit of Life, you have been set free in Christ- for or because...
Not on the basis of what you have done!
3Τὸ γὰρ ἀδύνατον τοῦ νόμου ἐν ᾧ ἠσθένει διὰ τῆς σαρκός,
For what was impossible for the law to do in the one weakened through the flesh,
It is impossible for those of us who are weakened through the flesh, that is we have all been corrupted by a sin nature. It is impossible for us to save ourselves through the law. That is law of sin and death. I desire to do right, but I have no ability to do the good I want. It is impossible for a sinner to save himself.
But what is impossible for us to do, God has already done for us.
ὁ θεὸς
God
τὸν ἑαυτοῦ υἱὸν πέμψας ἐν ὁμοιώματι σαρκὸς ἁμαρτίας καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας
by sending his only Son in the likeness of sinful flesh
Sending his only Son in the likeness of sinful flesh?
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Likeness of sinful flesh- made exactly like us, took upon our nature, was fully human in every respect. And yet, fully divine, fully God- passed through the heavens, the Son of God.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Tempted like we were- yet without sin!
Jesus was in the likeness of sinful flesh, he took upon himself a fully human nature, but not exactly like us. He was also fully divine, the Son of God, without sin!
Romans 8:3 (ESV)
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,
ὁ θεὸς
God
τὸν ἑαυτοῦ υἱὸν πέμψας ἐν ὁμοιώματι σαρκὸς ἁμαρτίας καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας
by sending his only Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin / as a sin offering
4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ”
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Romans 8:3 (ESV)
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,
κατέκρινεν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐν τῇ σαρκί,
condemned (pronounced the death-sentence on) sin in the flesh,
Same word used in v. 1- No Condemnation (no deaht-sentence) for those In CHRIST! Instead God has done for you what you could not do for yourself. How is that possible? God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering. And what did God do for you by means of his own Son? He condemned sin in the flesh. God pronounced the death-sentence on sin by sending Jesus in the flesh to be your sin offering.
Friends, the death-sentence on sin has already been uttered. The cry has already gone forth- Jesus made it on the cross. “IT IS FINISHED”
We are just waiting for the death-sentence to be carried out. Sin has already been condemned by Jesus in-fleshing Himself for us- by coming in the likeness of sinful flesh and as our sin offering. God has condemned sin. He has done for you what you could not do for yourself.
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.
This tells us just how thoroughly sin has been condemned. The salvation God has provided for us in Christ is so complete. Our freedom from the law of sin and death in Christ is so totally freeing in every possible sense of the word, Paul can say of those in Christ that the very righteous requirement of the law has been fulfilled in us.
What does that mean?
Two ways Jesus made it possible for the righteous requirement of the law to be fulfilled in us.
First Way:
Romans 3:25–26 (ESV)
25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
When Jesus died in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin or as a sin offering, he did something very important. He became our propitiation. That is Christ satisfied the justice of God on our behalf. The righteous requirement of the law demanded our death. Nothing but death and blood can satisfy the justice of God for the debt owed Him from our sin. But Jesus shed his blood for our sins. He exhausted God’s wrath for our sins. He paid our tab! In this way Jesus made it possible for the righteous requirement of the law to be fulfilled in us. By propitiating, by means of his own blood, the justice of a holy God.
Second Way:
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.
4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.
His robes for mine:
His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!
Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.
Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.
In Christ I live, for in my place He died.
His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?
God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.
Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,
Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.
I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:
Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.
Bought by such love, my life is not my own.
My praise—my all—shall be for Christ alone.
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.
Christian, rejoice in the salvation that has been done for you!
You salvation is based upon what God has done for you not what you have done for yourself.
What was impossible for you, God has done in your place.
He sent His only Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin. For this purpose- that the very righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us!
You sins have been propitiated by the blood of Christ, God’s justice is appeased.
Your filthy robes have been removed and you have been clothed in the pure vestments of the righteousness of Jesus. When God looks upon you Christian, he sees not your own failure, but the faultlessness of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
That means your favor with God is not based upon your own performance with all your failures. Your favor with God is based upon the righteous deeds of Jesus Christ.
In Christ the righteous requirements of the law have been fulfilled in us! You are under a new law- the law of the Spirit of life. And it has set you free from the law of sin and death in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Rejoice beloved, your names are written down in heaven! You are united to Christ. All that is His is yours now and forever more. He has done the impossible for us! Rest in your salvation. Find blessed peace in your salvation. Find unspeakable joy and delight in your Savior.