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Understanding the difference of being under law and being under grace
(Special Services #2)
Fred R. Coulter—December 26, 2016
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Greetings brethren, welcome again to Sabbath Services. Today we are going to answer the questions:
- What does it mean to be under the Law?
- Who is under the Law?
The Protestants say that if you try and keep the commandments of God you are going against the grace of God, and you were trying to justify yourself by commandment-keeping. We've already seen how that is not true. Now were going to answer the questions:
- What does it mean to be under law?
- Who is subject to that?
Just like everything else of Bible interpretation that people have, what they say they believe is the opposite of what the Scriptures really say.
For example: they say Jesus did away with the Law. Jesus said, 'I did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.' They say that if you try and keep the commandments then you're trying to work out your own salvation. However Rev. 22 says, 'Blessed are those who keep His commandments that they may have the right to eat of the Tree of Life.'
Doesn't sound very much like commandment-keeping is preventing you from receiving eternal life. So therefore, they do not understand the grace of God and they do not understand what it means to be under law.
Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not rule over you because you are not under law…"
If you are not under [the] Law, how then can you keep from sinning if you're not subject to the Law? So, were going to see there's a difference between being subject to the Law and being within grace and keeping the Law. They're not opposed.
- What does it mean to be under law?
- Who is under law?
Romans 7:1: "Are you ignorant, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know law) that the Law rules over a man… [that means women, too] …for as long a time as he may live?"
Let's stop and think about this from what we already know. I'm speaking to those who know law. All human beings are subject to law all the time! There are laws of the body, of the heart, of the mind, of the lungs, of the liver, of the kidneys, etc. There's a law of gravity we're subject to. There are the laws of the mind and thinking, and how that there is a law that without the Spirit of God you cannot understand the things of God.
God is the Lawgiver of everything, all things—everything in the world everything in the universe—functions according to law! That's what it means. You know law, you understand the operation of law.
"…that the Law… ['ho nomos'; now he brings it down to the Law of God] …rules over a man for as long a time as he may live?" (v 1).
If it rules over you for as long a time as you may live, who is under law? This comes from the Greek 'kurio' that means to rule over, master over. That means you're subject to law. Now we're not talking about the Spirit of God, yet. This is all human beings everywhere who do not have the Spirit of God, and everything that God has created functions by law. Who is under law?
Romans 3:19: "Now then, we know that what ever the Law says… ['ho nomos'—the Law of God] …it speaks to those who are under the Law… [then it defines who is under law] …so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God."
All of those who do not have the Spirit of God are under the Law, you're subject to the Law of God. Remember: Where there is no Law there is no sin! In Rom. 3 Paul describes all the sins and all the oppressions and all the things of men. Every mouth, that's every human being that is ever been, may be stopped. No one is going to tell God what to do! All the world, now combined together; that's very inclusive of all human beings.
"…may become guilty before God" (v 19). Why? Because sin is the transgression of the Law and the Law rules over every man and woman as long as they live! So therefore, every human being in the world is under [the]Law. Do they sin? Yes! Are they conscious of sin? Some! Maybe some may not be! That's why it says that 'all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.'
Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not rule over you because you are not under [the] Law but under grace."
Does sin rule over? It says, Romans 7:1: "…the Law rules over a man for as long a time as he may live." Sin shall not rule over you because you are not under [the] Law. If you are under [the] Law, sin is ruling over you because you do not have the Spirit of God.
But under grace: grace gives you the Spirit and the power! To be spiritually minded is peace and righteousness with God, and that comes with the Spirit of God.
We're going to see, as we go through verse-by-verse in Rom. 7, that Paul is talking about how the Law is to operate spiritually within our mind and heart as we use the Spirit of God to grow in grace and knowledge and overcome. Rom. 7 is a fantastic chapter.
When you understand that, that helps you to realize why a no law can forgive sin, only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and only through the Spirit of God can we overcome the sin within. How does that work?
- by loving God
- by keeping His commandments
- by having His Laws written into our heart and mind
This becomes very important for us to realize and understand.
Now then, as it was with me the first time I read the Scriptures, I couldn't understand it. We're told to keep the commandments of God and then the Protestants say that if you keep the commandments of God you are under [the] Law. No! The whole world is under [the] Law so that 'every mouth may be stopped.' The whole world is guilty, and 'all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.' You do not stop sinning until you start keeping the commandments of God and loving God and all of that.
This ties right in with Romans, Hebrews 10:14: "For by one offering… [that's Christ] …He has obtained eternal perfection… [that's the goal] …for those who are sanctified."
Who are the ones who are sanctified? Those are the ones who have the Spirit of God! Those are the ones who are under grace! You are being perfected you are being made Holy:
- through your conduct
- through your thoughts
- through the power of the Holy Spirit of God
- through the Laws and commandments of God
Verse 16: "'This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days,' says the Lord…" He's quoting the Scripture from the Old Testament, the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit. When you are baptized and you enter into an irrevocable covenant with God (Rom. 6).
- Christ died for you
- you die in the watery grave
- you're conjoined to His death
- you're to walk in newness of life as you come out of the water
Now the perfection begins!
"…'I will give… [Where does this come from? From God!] …My Laws into their hearts, and I…'" (v 16). God will do it: 'If we love Him and keep His commandments, We—the Father and the Son—will come and make Our abode, or dwelling place, with him' (John 14). So, this is the action of God with His Spirit within us! This is why we are not to live in sin.
This is the standard for law-keeping, being under grace, because all are subject to [the] Law but we are not under [the] Law, but under grace instead of being under [the] Law, so that we can have the laws and commandments written in our heart and mind. That's how we live rather than following 'the law of sin and death.' That is an inherent part of human nature and the way of man seems right to him. It is entirely different. Do you see the difference in that now?
Verse 16: "…'I will give My Laws into their hearts, and I will inscribe them in their minds; and their sins and lawlessness I will not remember ever again'" (vs 16-17).
1-John 2—Let's tie these Scriptures together in the way that they should be so that we know what we are doing spiritually. Being under grace means you are in that spiritual covenant with God the Father and Jesus Christ, and you have the Holy Spirit of God. You have access continuously to Jesus Christ for the mercy and forgiveness of sin through His sacrifice.
Why? Because that's how you overcome the sin within! Remember, we are being perfected. And that is a process. You don't get rid of all of sin and death immediately. No! You get rid of death when you're raised from the dead. While you're alive you still have 'the law of sin and death' within you. 'As in Adam we all die' (Heb. 9).
Overcoming the sin within is accomplished by the Holy Spirit of God as He writes His Laws and commandments in our heart and inscribes them in our mind. That's how we think and 'as a man thinks in his heart so he is.' Having the Spirit of God and the begettal of God to be a son or daughter of God is how we are before God.
1-John 2:3: "And by this standard we know that we know Him: if we keep His commandments."
- we still have free moral agency
- we still have to choose
- we still have to do what is right
Verse 4: "The one who says, 'I know Him' and does not keep His commandments…"
- What is sin? Sin is the transgression of the Law!
- Where do the commandments come from? The Law!
If you are not keeping His Laws and His commandments, "…is a liar, and the Truth is not in him" (v 4).
He is under [the] Law but not repentant or baptized or having the Holy Spirit of God. That's something! "…the Truth is not in him."
This is the difference between being under [the] Law and being under grace, v 5[transcriber's correction]: "On the other hand, if anyone is keeping His Word…" That's more than just commandment-keeping, that's everything. What did Jesus say? The words that I speak to you, they are Spirit and they are Life!
"…truly in this one the love of God is being perfected…" (v 5). That's what we read in Heb. 10. To perfection! How perfect are we to be?
Matthew 5:48—when Jesus began preaching the Gospel, He said: "Therefore, you shall be perfect, even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect."
So, He stated the goal right at the beginning. That cannot be accomplished without the Spirit of God, the love of God, and the grace of God. Do you understand that?
- Those who have the Spirit of God,are growing in grace and knowledge and keeping the commandments of God are under grace!
- Those who are in the world, who did not know the Laws of God but transgress the Laws of God, are under [the] Law and receive the penalty of the Law for their transgressions!
All the way from spiritual blindness to death! All are under [the] Law. 'So that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be guilty before God.'
Romans 7:1: "Are you ignorant, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know law)…" This is any kind of law: physical law, medical law, transaction law, human life laws, etc.
"…that the Law rules over a man for as long a time as he may live?" (v 1)—as long as you live in the flesh!
Now we will see the difference as Paul goes through Rom. 7 to further explain what we just read in 1-John 2.
Verse 2: "For the woman who is married is bound by law to her husband…" Where is that law found? Gen. 2! 'For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife.'
"…bound by law to the husband as long as he is living…" (v 2). Likewise as long as the wife is living the husband is bound. It's a mutual binding; it's a conjoining. As it says there, 'and the two shall become one flesh.' That is in life and in the sexual acts of love that they have in marriage.
Sidebar: Think on this: When children are conceived… All human beings have 46 chromosomes: 23 from father 23 from mother. Every cell in every human body has 46 chromosomes with the exception of the reproduction cells, which produce 23. So, 23 and 23 joined together, our children are the results of our one flesh, and literally are the one flesh from us.
Now likewise with the Spirit of God and our spirit and the begettal from the Father, we are going to become the children of God the Father. And just like from the Father we receive the earnest or the down payment. That's like half of the genes and chromosomes physically. But this time spiritually within us to be His children, and at the resurrection we'll receive the rest of eternal life and we will be at-one with God. Do we grasp that? That's a fantastic thing to understand!
"…bound by law to the husband as long as he is living; but if the husband should die, she is released from the law that bound her to the husband" (v 2). In this case it's talking about the law of marriage and binding, not necessarily the complete Law of God.
Verse 3: "So then, if she should marry another man as long as the husband is living, she shall be called an adulteress…" Why? Because she's transgressing the sixth commandment!
"…but if the husband should die she is free from the law… [the marriage law] …that bound her to the husband, so that she is no longer an adulteress if she is married to another man" (v 3).
He's talking to us about the covenant that God made with Israel; very important to understand, because there is covenant law. So, Paul is talking about:
- law in general
- the Law of God
- marriage law
now he's coming to
- covenant law
This helps us to understand what we are to do and how it affects us.
Verse 4: "In the same way, my brethren, you also were made dead to the marriage law of the Old Covenant…"—because you have to die—made with all Israel.
"…by the Body of Christ…" (v 4). Why? Because God in the marriage covenant that He did with Israel says that 'I am your husband' (Isa. 54:5)! That's the Old Covenant. In order for that covenant to be released either all Israel had to die or God had to die.
So God, in the person of Christ, died and ended the covenant. Ending the covenant does not end the laws. All covenants have laws. It dissolves that marriage covenant law that God had with Israel. Paul is explaining that to them.
"…by the Body of Christ in order for you to be married to another…" (v 4)—to enter into covenant with Jesus Christ and God the Father. You can't enter into covenants with two different people. You enter into the New Covenant.
"…Who was raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to God" (v 4)—spiritual fruit!
Galatians 5:22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering…" and so forth.
Romans 7:5: "For as long as we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were through the Law…"—you being under [the] Law were sinning continuously.
"…were working within our own members to bring forth fruit unto death" (v 5)—the wages of sin is death!
- v 4—"…fruit unto God"
- v 5—"…fruit unto death"
Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death…"
Romans 7:6: "But now we have been released from the law…"—that's the covenant law.
- not the Ten Commandments
- not the Laws of God
- not the spiritual application of them
but the covenant law
- God is lawful
- God is Lawgiver
- God is legal
So, when He does something because He is Lawgiver and legal, and does things that are just, right and good, He Himself follows His own law.
Therefore, in order for the New Covenant to be brought about, the God of the Old Covenant had to be manifested in the flesh become the son of God, Jesus Christ, die and that physical death ended the Old Covenant. It also established the sacrifice for the New Covenant—because God does many things at the same time—for the forgiveness of sin.
Verse 6: "But now we have been released from the Law, because we have died to that in which we were held… [you died to sin] …so that we might serve in newness of the spirit…"
Not just the laws over here, and 'I'm going to do in the letter of the Law.' But now in the spirit, because we have the Spirit of God in our heart and in our mind.
"… and not in the oldness of the letter" (v 6). That's why baptism; that's why repentance. Here Paul is talking about again the covenant law, which held Israel to the covenant of God. But they weren't faithful in it because they did not remain in it nor did they keep the Law. But they were never offered eternal life either.
"…serve in newness of the spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What then shall we say? Is the Law sin? MAY IT NEVER BE! But I had not known sin except through the Law…. [here we're talking about the Law of God] …Furthermore, I would not have been conscious of lust, except that the Law said, 'You shall not covet'" (vs 6-7).
Now what we are doing is this. He's showing the difference between the letter of the Law and now the spirit of the Law. This is why it's so hard to understand if you think that it just means the Law singularly alone. It means more than that.
- the law in general
- the Law of the Ten Commandments
- the Law of God
- the Spirit of God
now to keep it in the spirit, not in the letter.
Now let's stop here and asked the question: Who was Paul? As far as the letter of the Law was concerned, Paul was blameless (Phil. 3), He in the letter of the Law was within the Law, but he was still under [the] Law because he was still sinning. Even though he didn't understand the spirit of the Law.
From here on he's talking about the spirit of the Law, because here it says that "…we might [should] serve in newness of the spirit…" (v 6).
Verse 7: "What then shall we say? Is the Law sin? MAY IT NEVER BE! But I had not known sin except through the Law. Furthermore, I would not have been conscious of lust, except that the Law said, 'You shall not covet.'" But Paul didn't understand what it meant by "…you shall not covet."
Verse 8: "But sin, having grasped an opportunity by the commandment, worked out within me every kind of lust…" This is the ultimate perfection, the conversion of the mind, which is a process with God's Spirit being written in our heart and our mind by living by every Word of God.
Then he began to see all kinds of lust, because apart from law, sin was dead. Absolute true statement! If there is no law, there is no sin!
Verse 9: "For I was once alive without law…" Now, think on that statement. He's talking about before he was converted. He was under [the] Law. He was sinning! As a matter of fact he was coming against the Church with orders from the high priest to imprison and to kill.
"…but after the commandment came, sin revived, and I died…" (v 9). How did Paul die? Through baptism, being conjoined to the death of Christ! What he's saying here is, before I died in the watery grave of baptism, I didn't understand the workings of lust within my mind! Because now when we receive the Holy Spirit of God what it does it reveals to us the sin within. And after all, where does the perfection come? Out here? No, it comes in the mind, from within!
When he says I was once alive without [the] Law, that means he didn't understand the spiritual significance of the Laws of God. But after the commandment came, he fully understood it. He fully understood that through his sins he killed Christ.
"…sin revived, and I died" (v 6). Paul died in the watery grave of baptism. Isn't that what it says there? We are conjoined to the death of Christ. Yes indeed! Now the key verse, which is a transition verse, goes from the letter of the Law, and that's how God judges everybody out in the world, to the spirit of the Law and the Laws and commandments written in our heart and in our mind. That's how God is looking to us and judging us.
This is why we are to grow in grace and knowledge and develop the character of God. God is offering us eternal life, and the first fruits of eternal life, to be in His kingdom forever. That's why we need to understand what Paul is writing here. Please realize this. As I've said before, that God is not doing away with any of the His Laws. What is not practiced with the priestly laws and sacrifice laws those of all been superseded with Christ. He hasn't done away with them; they are no longer applicable.
Even if the temple were here and they are doing sacrifices, which they may do in the near future in Jerusalem, that doesn't change anything with the New Covenant. That is all physical that is all in the letter of the Law.
Now God wants human nature changed from 'the law of sin and death' to the Law of the spiritual mindedness through love and Truth, through overcoming and purging and having the sins removed from us in our minds. That's what's important. This is what we are getting to. Paul understood the Laws of God once, but not spiritually. That's why he said:
Verse 9: "For I was once alive without law…" He didn't understand the full applications of the spirit of the of the Law.
"…but after the commandment came, sin revived, and I died" (v 9). That is the spiritual understanding of the commandment came. Then he found that he had to die in the watery grave to have his sins forgiven. If they're not forgiven what do you face? Eternal death!
Verse 10: "And the commandment, which was meant to result in life, was found to be unto death for me; because sin, having taken opportunity by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me" (vs 10-11)—all spiritually applied.
The sin within, which is described by Jeremiah 17:9: '"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" The sin within deceived him into justifying what he was doing that was sin, was actually okay or right. Did he believe he was doing the right thing when he was out there arresting Christians and persecuting them? Yes he did!
"…it killed me." How did it kill him? It killed him in conscience unto repentance and to burial in baptism unto the spiritual death conjoined with the death of Christ to rise in newness of life! Therefore, now he understands the Law. Not just written in the tablets of stone, but now the Law spiritually, as differentiated from the letter of the Law.
Verse 12: "Therefore, the Law is indeed Holy, and the commandment Holy and righteous and good."
That's what God wants here. It's talking about the spiritual application of the laws and commandments of God. Once we grasp that very important fact, we can differentiate between the different meanings of 'law' in Rom. 7.
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Now Paul begins to explain the battle within him because when we are baptized and receive the Holy Spirit of God, 'the law of sin and death' is not removed from us. But we are given the power of the Spirit of God to overcome it. To recognize sin and lust when it begins in the mind, so then we can repent when that starts to occur.
Romans 7:13: "Now then, did that which is good become death to me? MAY IT NEVER BE! But sin, in order that it might truly be exposed as sin in me… [within me] …by that which is good…"
- the Laws of God
- the Spirit of God
- the power of God
- the good from God
to show us sin. Isn't it that the graciousness of God or the goodness of God leads us to repentance? Yes! Now you see how all of these verses interact and intertwine, and are part of Rom. 7. If you just pick up the Bible and start reading Romans seven you won't have a clue as to what it's talking about in reality, the difference between the letter of the Law and the spirit of the Law.
"…But sin, in order that it might truly be exposed as sin in me by that which is good, was working out death; so that by means of the commandment, sin might become exceedingly sinful" (v 13).
Let's look at an example of that. In bringing out in the first part of Matthew, Jesus was telling us some aspects of the New Covenant and we didn't really realize it and understand it.
Mathew 5:21: "You have heard that it was said to those in ancient times, 'You shall not commit murder; but whoever commits murder shall be subject to judgment.'"
- What if you murdered in your mind?
- How would anyone know that?
- Wouldn't know that!
But murder means that you had to go out and deliberately perform the physical act. The Old Testament makes a difference between murder and manslaughter and accidental death (Exo. 21).
This is what he's talking about here. But notice what he says. He changes it. What is the letter of the Law? You shall not commit murder! What is the spirit of the Law?
Verse 22: "But I say to you, everyone who is angry with his brother without cause shall be subject to judgment…. [judgment of God] …Now, you have heard it said, 'Whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be subject to the judgment of the council.' But I say to you, whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be subject to the fire of Gehenna."
That's what Rom. 7 means. It is the spirit of the Law vs the sin within that you are fighting against. What is revealing the sin to you within, is the Spirit of God so that you may repent.
That's why he says, Romans 7:14: "For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am carnal, having been sold as a slave under sin."
If you are under sin you're under [the] Law, and you are a slave to sin. To be under [the] Law means that you don't have the Spirit of God and you constantly commit sin and God is judging you! Now when God calls you to conversion, as Rom. 7 is showing here, God is revealing to you, as Jesus said in the beginning of His ministry, the sin is within!
This is why we need the Spirit of God to overcome. The Law is spiritual, not just written on tables of stone.
"…but I am carnal… [fleshly] …having been sold as a slave under sin" (v 14).
Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not rule over you…" If you are enslaved and under sin, its ruling over you. This is after conversion.
"…because you are not under law but under grace" (v 14). Meaning you are under the spiritual application of the Laws of God, having direct access to God the Father and Jesus Christ. Having your sins forgiven through grace and living in grace. And understanding how to overcome and using the Spirit of God to overcome the sin within, and that is only possible through the power of the Spirit of God.
Once you received the Spirit of God then there is this inner battle between the inner sin vs the spiritual obedience. In other words, the battle between the Spirit of God within you and the law of sin and death, which you have to overcome by using the Spirit of God. This is the battle that goes on. And this is not a battle that someone in the world goes through.
No, they may have a guilty conscience if they've done something wrong, but Proverbs tells us that 'every way of a man is right in his own eyes. There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.' So then, here's the description of the battle, and we all go through this,
Romans 7:15: because what I am working out myself, I do not know." Human beings do not know where they're going. Jesus said, 'Let the let the blind lead the blind and let the dead bury the dead.'
"…For what I do not desire to do…" (v 15). Now that you have the Spirit of God within you don't desire to do it. But you do.
"…this I do; moreover, what I hate, this is what I do" (v 15)—because you're battling and fighting against 'the law of sin and death' within you. That's why we have 1-John 1, that when we sin, we can 'confess our sins to Him and He is righteous and faithful to forgive us our sins.' That's where God wants the sin to stop, within. That we grow in grace and knowledge and the Spirit of God to overcome so that our mind is converted. Please remember that we will never completely overcome until the resurrection or until you die in the faith!
Verse 16: "But if I am doing what I do not desire to do, I agree with the Law that it is good." The Law is good, nothing wrong with the Law. You don't get rid of the Law because there's sin. You get rid of the sin because there's [the] Law.
Verse 17: "So then, I… [ego, my own self] ..am no longer working it out myself, rather, it is the sin that is dwelling within me." God has given us the power of His Spirit to overcome that sin and to repent of that sin.
Verse 18: "Because I fully understand…"—after conversion. After understanding the spiritual meaning of
- the Law
- the love of God
- the Truth of God
- the righteousness of God
- the grace of God
Verse 18: "Because I fully understand that there is not dwelling within me—that is, within my fleshly being—any good…."
Why? Because every cell of your being is stamped with 'the law of sin and death'! There is a death gene, death section, on every gene and those are called telomeres. When the telomeres are exhausted from the gene, death takes place. There is not dwelling in any of us any good thing except the Spirit of God, which He's given us. Here's the way that we are struggling against 'the law of sin and death' within:
"…For the desire to do good is present within me…" (v 18). Have you ever gotten up in the morning prayed, everything, you're off to work and doing whatever you're doing, and then something happens and BAM! you get angry and lose your temper and do something you shouldn't do.
- Did you desire to do it? No!
- Did you do it? Yes!
- Why? Because of 'the law of sin and death' within you!
Now then, you repent God wipes that away and this is how we are perfected. This is how our minds are converted, step-by-step-by-step.
Verse 19: "For the good that I desire to do, I am not doing; but the evil that I do not desire to do, this I am doing. But if I do what I do not desire to do, I am no longer working it out myself, but sin that is dwelling within me" (vs 19-20).
Yes, in every cell of your body, 'the law of sin and death.' Now then, we have to have our mind cleansed. Here's what he says:
Verse 21: "Consequently I find this law… [a law of sin and death working against the Spirit of God] …in my members, that when I desire to do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man" (vs 21-22).
- you love God
- you love His commandments
- you love all of these things
But sin dwelling within you causes you to sin. Now maybe it's just in your mind and thinking of it. That's why you have to repent, because it is
- a spiritual perfection
- a spiritual standard
- a spiritual warfare
that is going on!
Verse 23: "But I see another law within my own members, warring against the law of my mind…" We've got:
- the Law of God
- the law in general
- the law of sin
- the law of death
sold under sin
- the law of our mind
"…and leading me captive to the law of sin that is within my own members" (v 23).
Now stop and think! Paul was an apostle for more than 20 years when he wrote this, right about 20 years. Look at what he said he was dealing with internally. All of us deal with this internally, and that's how we grow and change and overcome.
Verse 24: "O what a wretched man I am! Who shall save me from the body of this death?" Peter says that 'the righteous scarcely be saved.'
That's what it's all about. God is wanting us to develop the spiritual standard of thinking, of living, of acting so that our actions are carried out according to His Spirit, which leads us:
- into Truth
- into sound mindedness
- into control
Paul had this that he had to fight against. We have to fight against it!
Verse 25: "I thank God for His salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, on the one hand, I myself serve the Law of God with my mind… [spiritually; however, he gives what happens when he sins] …but on the other hand, with the flesh, I serve the law of sin."
Of course, that's why we have repentance every day. Read Matthew 5-7 with this in mind. This will give you a greater understanding of it.
We can't be left hanging in the air with this. How does God look at it? If we repent, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins! Keep that in mind because that's what this is talking about here.
Romans 8:1: "Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…" Because we're:
- walking in the Spirit
- keeping the commandments of God
- loving God
- changing growing and overcoming
- seeing and recognizing sin
- repenting of it
That's called walking in the Spirit!
"…who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; because the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus… [Holy Spirit of God the Father and Jesus Christ within us, gives us the strength and the power] …has delivered me from the law of sin and death" (vs 1-2). That's why it has to be:
- living faith
- living love
- praying daily
- studying daily
- growing
- overcoming
- changing
- recognizing the sins from within
The source of it: the law of sin and death within us!
Verse 2: "Because the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has delivered me…[given us the tools to be delivered ] …from the law of sin and death. For what was impossible for the Law to do" (vs 2-3). The Law in the letter couldn't do anything, couldn't change anything, doesn't make anything right. It just tells you what is right what is wrong.
Now, when we come to the consciousness of the spiritual application of the Law, now then we begin to understand it in the right way that Paul wants. The Law can make you do nothing.
But even if you knew the Law you still sin because. "…in that it was weak through the flesh, God having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…"(v 3).
That means in the likeness of sin of flesh. So Jesus had to have within the Him 'the law of sin and death' to overcome, and never sin once, to become our Savior. That's the help that we can get. That's why Jesus was tempted in every way like we are tempted. Yet, He was without sin. Therefore, Paul writes in the Heb. 4, 'let's come before the throne of grace in time of need,' because He empathizes with us, being tempted in every way like we are so that we can come to Him and repent and have our sins forgiven through the grace of God! There can be nothing greater than that in this life.
He "…and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (v 3). That is a fantastic thing to understand. Now we've got that written in The Christian Passover book. We also have it written in the book The Day Jesus the Christ Died.
Why did He do all of this? Why did He not just take away the law of sin from us immediately as soon as were baptized? Because the law of sin and death is one operation within us, and we received that from Adam. And as long as we were in the flesh that will be there, and we have to grow and overcome and fight that from within. That is a lifelong battle! But here is what it's going to accomplish.
Verse 4: "In order that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who are not walking according to the flesh… [under law] …but according to the Spirit… [under grace ] …For those who walk according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh… [because they don't have the Spirit of God] …but those who walk according to the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit" (vs 4-5)—because they have the Spirit of God. That's what he's telling us here.
Verse 6: "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." You have peace with God.
- God loves you
- God has called you
- God cares for you
- He's offering you eternal life
Jesus is 'the Way, the Truth and the Life.' It all fits together in one fantastic spherical package.
Verse 7: "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…" An enemy of God. Like Paul was saying, he didn't understand the commandment even though he was a blameless Pharisee. But because he had no spiritual understanding.
"…for it is not subject to the Law of God; neither indeed can it be. But those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (vs 7-8).
Now that's quite a statement. Stop and think about that. All the things we talked about Judaism and Messianic Jews and all the physical things that they do, that's the mind of the flesh. You cannot please God by the fleshly things you do outside.
God wants you to, in studying His Word, have His Word and His Laws written in your heart and mind through His Spirit. Doing it as you love God and keep His commandments study His Word and pray to Him every day. This is a living way! This is a way of life!
It's not a quick fix to have your sins forgiven and 'I accept You, Jesus,' and BAM! your soul is ready to go to heaven and nothing you can do can stop that. That is Satan's lie! Now then Paul tells us the truth of all of this. This is from Rom. 1-8. And this section of chapter 8 ends half of the book of Romans.
Verse 9: "However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God is indeed dwelling within you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. But if Christ be within you, the body is indeed dead because of sin; however, the Spirit is life because of righteousness" (vs 9-10).
Don't you think it is a righteous thing to overcome 'the law of sin and death' within you through the Spirit of God? To bring:
- righteousness
- love
- peace
- Truth
- goodness
- Holiness
Verse 11: "Now, if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling within you…" So, we have the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit from the Father and this agrees with John 14:22.
"…He Who raised Christ from the dead will also quicken… [make alive ] …your mortal bodies because of His Spirit that dwells within you" (v 11).
Within ourselves, without the Spirit of God, there is no good whatsoever, because of 'the law of sin and death.' But with the Spirit of God and with overcoming and growing there is no condemnation.
Verse 12: "So then, brethren, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh… [we don't go out there are live the way the world does] …because if you are living according to the flesh, you shall die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you shall live" (vs 12-13).
The active tool of the Spirit of God you are putting to death, the deeds of the body; that is the deeds of 'the law of sin and death' within you. You shall live.
Verse 14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." We are the children of God. God is there and Christ is there:
- to help us
- to strengthen us
- to be with us
- to forgive us
- to lead us
- to bring to our consciousness the things that we do that are not right that we need to repent of
Verse 15: "Now, you have not received a spirit of bondage again unto fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship, whereby we call out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit itself bears witness conjointly with our own spirit, testifying that we are the children of God" (vs 15-16). That's what God is doing within us, creating His own sons and His own daughters.
Verse 17: "Now, if we are children, we are also heirs—truly, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer together with Him, so that we may also be glorified together with Him. For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us" (vs 17-18).
I want you to think about the words in Eph. 1. These are very inspiring very meaningful, talking about what God is doing with us, to us and for us! Remember if God be for you, nothing can be against you!
Ephesians 1:1: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus… [a prophecy that this epistle is for all of us] …Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (vs 1-2). Isn't that amazing? Peace with God!
Verse 3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ." Not yet there, but we will be. That's a promise. If God states it, so it is true.
Verse 4: "According as He has personally chosen us for Himself…" Think of how much love God has that He has personally chosen each and every one of us, and down through time.
I wonder what is going to be like at the resurrection when all the saints are resurrected. What a glorious time that is going to be. And all the things that everyone had to fight and overcome and go against and fight against Satan the devil of this world and all the powers of this world. There's nothing in this world to be compared to what God is going to give us!
"…before the foundation of the world…" (v 4). That's when He had His plan, before the foundation of the world.
"…in order that we might be Holy and blameless before Him in love; having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will" (vs 4-5).
Now that is fantastic! That's why it's important that we know these things. That is why it is important that we use the Spirit of God and grow and change and overcome. He has called us to be His sons and His daughters: sonship of God!
"…according to the good pleasure of His own will… [the will of God to do this for you, to you, with you] …to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son; in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (vs 5-7).
Continuous access so we can repent and overcome, and repent and overcome, and change and grow and develop the way He wants us to.
Verse 8: "Which He has made to abound toward us in all wisdom and intelligence; having made known to us the mystery of His own will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself" (vs 8-9).
We understand the plan of God. The world doesn't know it. The world is flooded over with the mystery of lawlessness, because they don't love the Truth.But God has given us the understanding of the mystery of His own will.
Verse 10: "That in the Divine plan for the fulfilling of the times, He might bring all things together in Christ, both the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth; yes, in Him, in Whom we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestinated according to His purpose, Who is working out all things according to the counsel of His own will; that we might be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in the Christ" (vs 10-12).
That is a fantastic promise! That's why we need to:
- love God
- believe God
- trust in God
- trust His Word
and everything that there is.
Verse 13: "In Whom you also trusted after hearing the Word of the Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."
That's how we understand the spiritual application of the way of God
- in His Laws
- in His Truth
- in our conduct
- in our behavior
- in our mind
Verse 14: "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory,"
Now you know what it means to be under grace vs under law. I hope this helps you to realize how great and marvelous that the Word of God really is. I hope this really helps you and inspires you as it does me, to understand the Truth of God the love of God and how all these things come together.
Scriptural References:
- Romans 6:14
- Romans 7:1
- Romans 3:19
- Romans 6:14
- Romans 7:1
- Hebrews 10:14, 16-17
- 1 John 2:3-5
- Matthew 5:48
- Romans 7:1-4
- Galatians 5:22
- Romans 7:5
- Romans 6:23
- Romans 7:6-12
- Jeremiah 17:9
- Romans 7:13
- Matthew 5:21-22
- Matthew 7:14
- Matthew 6:14
- Romans 7:15-25
- Matthew 8:1-18
- Ephesians 1:1-14
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Revelation 22
- John 14
- Hebrews 9; 10
- Genesis 2
- Isaiah 54:5
- Philippians 3
- Exodus 21
- 1 John 1
- Hebrews 4
- John 14:22
Also referenced: Books:
The Christian Passover by Fred R. Coulter
The Day Jesus the Christ Died by Fred R. Coulter
FRC:po/bo
Transcribed: 2/5/17
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