ROMANS 8:1-4 THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT A wonderful and gracious pronouncement from the seat of righteous justice introduces another fundamental part of the doctrine of the Gospel. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." The blood of Christ shed on the cross has cleansed us from all sin. The person who accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior has died with Christ to sin and to the sin-principle that Adam had brought us into. Now because of the triumphs of the grace of God, we are not under law but under grace. Sin does not rule over us. There is deliverance from the struggle we may have with indwelling sin in our bodies of flesh, through our Lord Jesus Christ. All of His great work has brought us a new freedom. The work of Christ has already been done for us. Now the Holy Spirit makes this new life to be ours. We have been declared "Not guilty!" and are free in Christ Jesus.
The power of the Holy Spirit was evident at the creation of the world. The power of the Holy Spirit was also seen when the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world and was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. That same Person and that same power has freed us from the law of sin and death. So, the delivered believer has been sanctified by the Holy Spirit and brought under a new law - the law of life in Christ Jesus. Looking back there has been a whole series of pages turned that unfold the glorious Gospel. We started out condemned. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Now through the gracious work of God - there is "no condemnation." Between those two phrases, a great unfolding of the way of salvation has revealed that the law of sin and death has no authority over those who have new life in Christ and live under "the law of the Spirit of life."
We not only have new freedom and a new law of life we live by, but we have new power from this new law of the Spirit of life. We were not able under the old law to live a holy life because of the flesh. Now this new power enables us to walk according to the Spirit. We are not in bondage to the flesh. The Lord Jesus Christ, when here in the flesh was absolutely perfect, even though He was "found in fashion as a man." He put away our sin and guilt of sin by His blood when we were crucified with Him. Our sin was judged and fear of condemnation is past.
The law was powerless to free us because of our flesh. But Christ condemned that when He was here in the flesh because of His perfection as a man. Now we can, in Christ, fulfill the righteousness of the law by being declared holy and without blame before Him in love. Now that we are declared righteous, that righteousness is not fulfilled by us, but in us, when we choose to walk according to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has all power and we have the choice to walk according to the Spirit within us. That new freedom, that new law of life, that new power creates in us a new desire to walk holy and blameless before our Lord and before men as well. This sanctification of life is a work of the Holy Spirit.
"No condemnation!" is a blessed word. Perhaps the most appreciated one ever heard, Because it lifts up the head of the guilty one, And says all legal claims against him are gone.
Now there is a new freedom to live by faith a new life, With the demands of law removed so there is no strife. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Is the same law that from sin and death has freed us.
We were powerless in the flesh to overcome sin. But the law of the Holy Spirit who dwells within Has made possible the fulfillment of the demands of the law That kept us in bondage because we could not keep them at all.
Now the righteous requirements have all been met, When God sent His Son in the flesh that we might get Deliverance and freedom, new power and new desire. Now being free in Christ, to holy living we aspire.
"When Thou didst send Thy Son, Gracious Father, what a great door to freedom and life was opened by His obedience and death. When He sent the Holy Spirit, what a blessing that needed power and guidance was given to weak and wandering people. For this spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the blessed freedom I have now, I give Thee thanks and praise, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."