We said last week that “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). It sounds like a contradiction—“the law of the Spirit of life”—what can be freer than “the Spirit of life” and what can be more regular and dependable than “the law”?
Is this Spirit of life in Christ Jesus as regular and dependable as an immutable law? It was E. D. Starbuck, the psychologist, who in modern times emphasized this statement of Paul’s that the spiritual life is ruled by law. He said, “There is no event in the spiritual life which does not occur in accordance with immutable laws.” He found “as great orderliness and sequence among the facts of emotion” as does the physicist in his laboratory.
This is what we would expect if the God of nature and the God of grace are one and the same God. The God who works in nature by law and order would certainly not work in grace by whim, notion, and fancy. The laws of nature are dependable because God’s mind is dependable.
So God is not like a potentate of ancient times, out of whom you could wangle benefits if you knew how to get on his good side by flattery and proper approach. He is constant and consistent. You do not have to overcome God’s reluctance; you have to lay hold on His highest willingness. You lay hold on His highest willingness by surrender and faith and obedience. That sounds as though you get what you want by giving what you have! Precisely! You exchange your all for His all, and you find, to your surprise, that it is the best bargain this universe offers. The finite creature offers his all to the Infinite Creator and receives back all that he needs and can handle. There is no bargain like it.
THE PRAYER
O God, my Father, I bank on Thy constant consistency. I know Thou art love and Thou canst not violate Thine own nature. Thou canst not do an unloving thing. I bank on that with my very life, and I’m grateful it works. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY
A man spoke to God through an echoing barn, “I want more of You,” and got back the reply, “I want more of you.”
Get your copy of In Christ: Devotions for Every Day of the Year from our store here.
Subscribe to get this in your inbox daily and please share this link with friends.
3 Responses
“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” is the grace-filled fountain of life that will flow like rivers of living water from deep within Christ-followers who through ongoing humility and surrender train themselves not to hinder or hold it back. They work to remove every obstacle in their life and to prepare the way for the Lordship of the living Jesus so that He can manifest His grace by ruling and reigning in and through their innermost being and by setting them free from “the law of sin and death.” (See Romans 8:2.)
By cultivating and maintaining consistent, inner Christ-connection (abiding in the Vine) the power of sin and death is broken and replaced with the “glorious liberty of the children of God.” (As many as are led by the Spirit are the children of God.”)
Abide!
Make the selection
To always receive
A fresh injection
Of Christ-connection.
After posting this, I went to Twitter and had a new follower who I don’t know. He has this posted on his home page: “For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Freedom is in obedience. Don’t want a speeding ticket, abide by the speed limit.
Want a life that is free indeed? Obey the law of the spirit. Not out of obligation but from desire.
How?
Start with your identity in Christ because He is the law of the spirit, of life. (Colossians 1:15-17; John 1:14: Hebrews 1:1-3.)
You ARE a spirit. (Romans 8:16; Acts 7:59; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 8:55)
You HAVE a soul. (Psalm 23:3; Mark 8:36; Matthew 10:28; Ezekiel 18:4)
You LIVE in a body. (Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 15:44; 1 Corinthians 15:44; James 2:26)
Genesis 2:7
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Staying 💪’n Christ.
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.