4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
—The words of the Apostle Paul from Romans 7:4-6
In a spiritual sense, which would you rather be, dead or alive? To most people, that seems like a mighty silly question, doesn’t it? Even if a person struggles spiritually in despair over some deep hurt in his or her inner being, that person generally still wants to cling to spiritual fullness in his or her life. After all, if you become dead spiritually, you won’t find out how the story of your spiritual life may end. Again, I’m talking about spiritual life and asking if you will choose death or life.
In the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post, the Apostle Paul lays out a key element in his theology. Paul writes to the Christians gathered in Rome about the relationship of the Jewish Law and the redemptive power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Law condemns the Jews to death by pointing out the sins they have committed and continue to commit. Yes, once each year the high priest enters the Holy of Holies and makes a sacrifice to cover the sins of the Jewish people. But, that sacrifice has no permanency. It lasts only for a season. It has limited effectiveness.
Paul joyfully reports that a permanent and lasting sacrifice has been provided by God for all mankind, through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus has paid the penalty for the sins of all those who will believe in Him. Whereas the Law convicts people of their sin—and that conviction leads to death—the power of Christ’s sacrificial death pays the penalty for people’s sins and His resurrection leads to everlasting life.
Interestingly, in His mercy and grace, God allows us to choose. We can either cling to the Law and allow it to continue to condemn us to spiritual death. Or, we can choose to place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and allow Him to grant us continually renewed lives. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!
Dear friend, I urge you to choose life in Christ today. Accept the cleansing that God has provided for you. Put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you do, you will experience freedom from spiritual death, both now, and for all eternity.
Will you pray with me?
Thank You, God for loving us. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to be our Savior. Thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit to draw us irrestibly into Your grace.
Please allow us to sense Your Presence in our lives each day. As we wander through the world around us, help us to see Your hand at work in our lives. Remind us, frequently, of Your great love for us. And, help us to sense the renewing of your Holy Spirit within us. We pray, with thanksgiving, in the matchless and redeeming Name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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