For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set me free from the law of sin and death.
Truth to Learn
The Holy Spirit is continually working in Christians.
Behind the Words
This verse starts with “For,” a translation of the Greek article gar, which is “a causative particle expressing the reason for what has been before.” In other words, the expression that follows is an explanation as to why “there is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.”
The word translated “in” is the Greek preposition en, which refers to “a fixed position in place or time,” but by implication here it means “instrumentality.” In other words, the law of the Spirit of life is brought about through the work of Christ.
“Set me free” is translated from eleutheroĊ, which means “to liberate from the power and punishment of a master.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating action that occurred at a point in time in the past. In other words, it was not a gradual act of liberation but one that occurred immediately. This liberation occurred the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Meaning Explained
Paul is explaining why there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. It is because, “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set me free from the law of sin and death.” The expression, “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” refers not to a written law but a natural law as we discussed back in Romans 7:21. The Spirit of life mentioned in this verse refers to the Holy Spirit who brings life.
Paul is telling us that there is no condemnation against those of us who are saved because the natural law (supernatural law in this case) of the Holy Spirit, providing life through our faith in Jesus Christ, made us free from the control of sin and the death which results from that sin. We were set free from the law of sin and death at the moment we were saved.
It is because we believe God’s message about the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross that God’s grace has been bestowed on us and the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a seal of our salvation. And it is the Holy Spirit who gives us both eternal life and the ability to overcome our own sin nature. Hence, we have free will to obey God or not. Before we were saved, we did not have this free will, we were slaves to sin.
Why, then was Paul so frustrated back in Romans 7:15? It is because having a free will does not mean that we always do what is right. It means that we have the choice to sin or not to sin, and when we choose to sin we are convicted by our conscience (and by the Holy Spirit) and we regret doing it. This sin that separates us from fellowship with God requires confession to restore that fellowship and to restore our peace. Unsaved people don’t have this free will; they are under the dominion of their sin nature without the ability to resist.
Application
It’s easy to believe that because we have been declared righteous by God we can sin and not suffer the consequence of sin. However, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and prompts us to confess our sin. Thank you, Lord, for the freedom to obey and for the work of the Holy Spirit in us when we don’t obey!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved