Verse 1 sets the tone and character for the rest of the chapter. Verse 2 takes a brief moment to expound upon what that verse had to say. And then we find that verses 3 and 4 explain just a bit more verse 2. This is not a book of proverbs collected at random or even organized topically. This is more like a theological lecture to a group of Seminary students. And each verse or statement leads to other related, and sometimes more advanced statements. And if that offends someone, then it just shows how much weaker the saints of God are today in comparison to those of the New Testament days. Paul wrote and spoke this way, because apparently his readers could see and understand logical thought and progressions.
Not only do we need to look at verse 2 because it sheds light on verse 1, but it teaches a relatively complicated subject. To what does the word “for” refer in verse 2? If we take one interpretation, it puts us on tracks that lead to Seattle. If we take the other interpretation then we head toward San Francisco or Los Angeles. Do you think that you know what is meant by “law”? Well, we’ll see. And what is “sin and death?” What is the “Spirit of Life?” We need to know these things: and hopefully to remember them.
On January 1, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln signed the so-called “Declaration of Emancipation.” Most Americans have no idea what that really was. They understand that event about as well as they understand the crucifixion of Christ. Actually, the Declaration of Emancipation was a pair executive orders. The first, which was made in September, 1862, declared the freedom of all slaves in any state of the Confederacy which didn’t return to the Union by January 1st. The second on January 1st, 1963 merely specified the states whose slaves were declared free. One problem with things was that the emancipation was for slaves over which the Union had no control. Second, there were slaves in the Border States and Northern States which were not emancipated. Third, the declaration was actually a war measure and had no permanent effect. In some ways, it was worthless piece of paper, over which people have been fighting for nearly 150 years.
Here in Romans 8 verses 1 and 2 there is another Declaration of Emancipation. It is sad that some people think that it applies to them, when actually it doesn’t for one reason or another. And it’s a further shame that many have been made free, but they don’t realize it, or live like it. They remain slaves to masters who have no authority to be their masters.
To what does the word “for” point a finger? “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. FOR the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” As usual, I consulted a collection of material on this passage to get some ideas. The very first article that I looked at presented a logical case, stating that the “law of the Spirit of Life” explains why Christians walk not after the flesh. In other words, we begin at this point to deal with Christian sanctification. But in studying it a bit farther, especially in the light of next two verses that doesn’t fit. How can not killing people any more, bring back from the dead those that we have already killed? The Bible describes someone stealing a pet sheep, killing it and eating it. Can that pet ever really be restored or returned? How can the accomplishment of sanctification bring about end of condemnation? Never, never, never say that or even think that – it can’t be done. That is a false gospel coming right out of the heart of Satan. That boils down to salvation by human works – sinful works. If by some means sin can be avoided for the rest of our lives, that does not negate our condemnation for our previous sin, or for our sin nature.
And secondly, the Apostle isn’t describing what can or might happen, but what has happened. Christians ARE free from the law of sin and death. A good degree of sanctification, or holiness, is possible and something for which to yearn. But this verse is talking about something guaranteed and already arranged. Actually, “for the law of the Spirit of Life” explains why “there is therefore now no condemnation.” It’s not why we walk not after the flesh, but why there is no more condemnation.
It is a reiteration of the Declaration of Emancipation.
As we saw last week, “law” in this case is talking about an unvarying method, a principle, a kind of force. For example, sometimes we speak of the law of gravity. That is referring to an un-deniable force which draws smaller objects towards larger objects. It is a law that my wife be attracted to me, because I have more physical mass than she has. I am attracted to her because she’s the sweetest thing that I know, next to Sahalie. But she is attracted to me because I’m bigger than she is – that is the law of gravity. Those are both natural laws, and one can even be found in physics books.
Then there is law of nature which says that when water temperature drops below 0C it freezes. There are ways to avoid the process, but that law is hard to break. There are hundreds of laws like these.
Likewise there is a law, a natural and spiritual law, says: “The wages of sin is death.” And before that, there is a law which says, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Even if there was no law book which specified these things, they would be true and regular as gravity. There are natural principles which come into play which make sin – sin. “And as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. That is not THE law, it is law. And the emancipation of these verses deals with that law, not the law which says, “thou shalt not steal.” We are still obligated, for example, to respect the property of others. Even Christians must not commit adultery or murder – or should we say especially Christians.
And what about “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus?” Is this some sort of hand written ordinance of a gracious God? Is it the New Testament as compared to the Old Testament? Or is this the working of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s personal sanctification? – None of these. This last idea is basically the same saying there is no condemnation because we are holy or sanctified. That is Roman Catholic doctrine, and the teaching of so much of Protestantism as well. About the only thing that makes sense and is consistent with rest of God’s Word is that “the law of the Spirit of life” refers to the operation of the Holy Spirit through the gospel. Salvation from sin has set me free from the consequences of my wicked sins. Justification by faith has set me free from condemnation.
But why does Paul call this a “law”? First, we note that this is not the first time that he’s used this term.
Romans 3:23-27 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” Does the word “faith” refer to some judicial dictate or rule? I suppose that we can squeeze in that meaning, but it doesn’t come naturally. What we are talking about in both passages is the natural operation of God’s saving grace.
This is the beautiful part of this thought: When God’s grace is bestowed upon sinner, it accomplishes that which God intended it to do. Just as gravity does not repel objects, but attracts them to each other… …the law of the Spirit of life cannot do anything less than free us from condemnation. It is a law – a universal principle which is always true. We are free from the usual outcome from sin, which is death, because of“the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” There is no room for failure in this case. The child of God cannot be cast aside; he cannot be condemned. There is a spiritual law in control of the situation.
But don’t think of this law as something cold, unthinking and mechanical. Let’s put the praise where it belongs.
And the power in the sense of “dunamis” is the Holy Spirit. It is by the operation of the Spirit that those who were dead in sin are made alive forever more. We are quickened by the Spirit; born-again, regenerated. And the result is spiritual life, when there wasn’t any before.
So, there is a law which says that a 358,000 pound lump of aluminum and steel cannot fly. That natural law is gravity, and it is hard to beat – but it can be beaten. There is another law, the law of aerodynamics, which when properly applied overcomes the law of gravity. That 358,000 pound lump of earth-bound material can be made to supercede the law of gravity.
And there is a law of sin and death which says, David Oldfield is worthy of Hell. But there is a law of grace, a law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus which has power to overcome the first law. That first law is not done away, but it has no strength over me because of grace. I have been, past tense, aorist tense, I have been emancipated from the law of sin. “There is therefore now, no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made us me free from the law of sin and death.”