that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Truth to Learn
The righteousness that God demands of us is fulfilled for us through the righteousness of Christ.
Behind the Words
The words “righteous requirements” are a translation of the Greek word dikiōma, which is from the verb dikaioō, meaning “to render as just, righteous, or innocent.” Dikaiōma refers to “an equitable deed” and by implication to “a decision or statute.”
“Fulfilled” is from the Greek word plēroō, which means “to fill-up completely” or “to make complete.” As it is used in this verse it means “to completely satisfy.”
The word “walk” is translated from peripateō, which is made up of peri, meaning “around” and pateō, meaning “to walk.” Hence, it literally means “to walk around.” Metaphorically, it refers to the manner in which we live our life.
Meaning Explained
In order to get the full impact of this verse we have to go back and join it with the second half of the previous:
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The reason that God sent His son was to fulfill the Law and to make a judgment against sin so that the righteousness of the Law might be completely satisfied in us.
But, how does Christ’s fulfilling the Law translate into the righteousness of the law being fulfilled in us? Back in Romans 3:21-28 Paul talked about the righteousness that is imputed by grace upon all those who believe, and he concluded:
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.
The only way that God can satisfy his own justice, which requires that sin be penalized (and we know that the wages of sin is death), is for someone who has perfectly fulfilled the righteousness of the Law to then offer His life as a substitution for ours. This is precisely what Christ did when he came in the “likeness of sinful flesh.” And, it is by faith that we receive the grace of God through which He credits Christ’s righteousness to our account. By faith we believe that Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins, and by grace God then imputes Christ’s righteousness to us. Hence, the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us.
The final phrase of this verse is a statement of fact, not a condition. It is a description of Christians, we who have received that grace and, therefore, walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Application
Let us demonstrate the righteousness that has been imputed unto us by living our lives characterized by things of the Sprit of God rather than the things of our flesh. After all, we have been bought with a price, the precious blood of the sinless Lamb of God!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved