The Law of the Spirit of Life
Rom. 8:2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. (CSB)
A Note about Spiritual Laws
The law of sin and death has been working for around 6 thousand years
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has been active for around 2 thousand years
Once a spiritual law is activated - unless there is a higher law that can supersede it - it stays active and working
Spiritual laws work the same for every person - everywhere - and every time
Both of the those laws are currently active.
One is producing life.
One is producing death
Both laws work the same for every person - everywhere - and every time
The Father sent Jesus to free individuals from the Law of Sin and Death
He did that by activating the Law of the Spirit of Life
Understanding that these 2 spiritual laws are active and working for everyone, everywhere, and every time is a key truth for Christians
These 2 spiritual laws:
Form belief systems
They form narratives and concepts around the world
Many things in the world are rooted in one of these laws
Creativity can be rooted in one or the other of these laws
Once you are alive IN CHRIST and experience the law of the Spirit of life
You can identify sin & death and the out-workings of it
We’ll say more about that later on…
What is and Who Activated the Law of Sin and Death?
Gen. 3:2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden.
Gen. 3:3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’” (ESV)
The law of sin and death was activated when Adam disobeyed God
Spiritual death came upon the human race
Spiritual death is the root cause of natural / physical death
Does the O.T. Law have anything to do with the Law of Sin and Death?
To say the L. of S. & D. is the Old Testament Law and nothing else
That would not be entirely true or accurate - WHY?
Because the law didn’t exist back in the garden where Adam and Eve fell
1 Cor. 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (ESV)
NOTE: the law put boundaries/limits/restraint on people
We could say - the law became the magnifier of sin - The bible calls it the strength of sin
ILLUSTRATE: Picture a group of people that had the works of the flesh
OTHER THAN THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE - There was not any law prohibiting any of them from doing what was working in their flesh
If no one makes a law and says it is wrong - then people will freely do it
They were doing things their flesh wanted to do
Then the law came..
Rom. 5:20a…God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were…(NLT)
Rom. 7:13 Was then that which is good, death to me? In no way. But the purpose was that sin might be seen to be sin by working death to me through that which is good; so that through the orders of the law sin might seem much more evil. (BBE)
This verse helps us see two things:
The law of sin and death was in the world - since the time Adam sinned
People were not alive unto God - because when Adam sinned spiritual death came upon all people (Rom 5:14)
They did not know what was right and wrong
Romans 7:13 explains the combination of unregenerate man and the restraint of God’s law - working together - MAGNIFIES SIN
the law being good - working bad
What are the Effects of the Law of Sin and Death?
we’ll look at 3 main areas that this law affected
ONE: The Earth and All of Creation
Rom. 8:19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
Rom. 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
This is refrain to Gen. 3:17 “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, ‘Don’t eat from this tree,’ The very ground is cursed because of you;. (Message)
Rom. 8:21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Rom. 8:22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (ESV)
The law of sin and death effected ALL of creation
From the moment Adam sinned the law of sin and death began working
TWO: Satan Gained a Position of Authority on Earth
Which means Adam lost his position of authority
Luke 4:5 So he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luke 4:6 The devil said to him, “I will give you their splendour and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. (CSB)
In order for Jesus to be tempted - the devil had to have the authority on the earth - it was handed to him when Adam sinned
REMEMBER - The earth is the Lord’s - but the world’s system is the devil’s
Psa. 50:1 The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. (ESV)
2 Cor. 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (ESV)
The Lord is running the universe - meaning the planets, stars, the earth itself - rotating - gravity
AND as psa 50:1 said: “God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting”
Yet the devil is influencing people individually and through system
THREE: Every Person on Earth is Affected
Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
Rom. 5:13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.
Rom. 5:14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One. (CSB)
A percentage of people on earth express hate for God - because He didn’t stop Adam from sinning - He instead gave mankind a free will
They made their own choice
Secondly people express hate for God because Adam’s sin passed down to ALL of mankind
I personally will not use my time to criticise God - He is God
The good news is He planned the cure for man’s fall:
Why is This All Relevant?
These 2 spiritual laws:
Form belief systems
They form narratives and concepts around the world
Many things in the world are rooted in one of these laws
Jesus was addressing who He called vipers:
He said the tree is either good or bad
I said this a NUMBER of times - the media - and certain politicians work on dividing us - under the disguise of helping some of us
They use all the cards they can to do this
In God’s World View - There are 2 groups of people - alive and dead - (colour, money, and things aren’t qualifiers)
Jesus said you are EITHER one or the OTHER
Matt. 12:35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. (ESV)
Matt. 12:35 A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. (CSB)
The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus:
What does this law do IN us, FOR us, and OUT of us ?
FIRST - He Makes US ALIVE unto God
John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (ESV)
1 Cor. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (ESV)
SECOND - We are RESTORED BACK into a Place of Authority
Eph. 2:6 So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus;
We. Made a come back - we were behind by a few points - (of the law of sin and death)
But IN HIM - we made a come back - it was a trick play on the devil called - the death burial and resurrection - It led to a touchdown - and the points that were scored were: The Law of the Spirit of Life
Rom. 5:17 If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. (CSB)
THIRD - The Charges Against Us Were Dropped
Col. 2:14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
How can this be described?
You are in prison - you have have a heap of charges that you were found guilty on - (Adam sinned - he was guilty)
The PM - decides he wants to PARDON you - He degrees you are a free man and the charges go away forever
JESUS took on Adam’s sin and became sin for us - He has pardoned us
But He also had had the record of the charges dropped
Col. 2:15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. (NLT)
That is why Jesus is our Intercessor - He pleads our case
The devil accuses us - but he defends us - the charges have been dropped - gone
FOURTH - We Have a DEPOSIT of God’s Nature IN US
1 Cor. 3:16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? (CSB)
Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. (CSB)
In the Old Covenant the law was a restraint for sin. It was a list of do’s and dont’s that restrained people with instruction and head knowledge in the form of laws
In our covenant - the fruit of the spirit is in us - the life of God - Our restraint comes from within
Our new nature which made us alive in Christ in conjunction with an impartation of God’s character restrains us from the inside out. Not with knowledge only, but with both the life and character of God.
FIFTH - Jesus Becomes Our Wisdom
1 Cor. 1:30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (CSB)
Christians have wisdom from God made available to them
Having Him in us - By His Spirit
We should not be deceived by the false narratives of the world
The lies - deception - and all that goes along with the KOSMOS
LASTLY - We Can Now Speak Life From a PLACE of Life
Psa. 107:20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. (ESV)
Psa. 107:20 He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death. (MSG)
God is life - He is true life - He is alive - His Words brings results
When we put His Word in our mouth and speak it from our hearts - the same powerful life flows out of us
Not because we are great - but because it’s HIS WORD and WE are acting on it
Matt. 8:16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. (ESV)
Luke 7:7b…But say the word, and let my servant be healed. (ESV)
Luke 7:7b…Just give the order and my servant will get well. (MSG)
Let’s Do Some Speaking
For covid
Magnify God - pattern - HE IS SEATED - I am SEATED…I AM the Righteousness of God in Christ
I HAVE the SAME GLORY that RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD DWELLING in ME