Rooted In His WordMinta

The word “law” in our verses for today does not refer to any set of commandments in general or to the Mosaic Law specifically. It would probably be better translated as “power.” Given this, there are two powers at work in the world. There is the power of sin and death, and there is the power of the Spirit of life.

The power of sin and death, on the one hand, is the power of our own sinful spiritual state – which is itself under “the power of the evil one” (I John 5:19). It is the tyrant and rebel within us that leads us astray from God’s will and ways and, as a consequence, leads us to eternal death and separation from God. The power of the Spirit of life, on the other hand, is the power of the Holy Spirit at work within those who believe in Christ Jesus. It is the power that enables the believer to follow God’s will and ways and, as a consequence, leads us to eternal life and fellowship with God.

For those who believe in Christ Jesus, the power of the Spirit of life has set us free from the power of sin and death. The believer receives the Holy Spirit when Jesus Christ is accepted as Lord and from that point on the Holy Spirit “dwells’ within the believer (I Corinthians 3:16). The indwelling presence of the Spirit is a liberating power that sets us free from the tyranny and rebelliousness of the sinful spiritual state. This does not mean that Christians never sin again or that the sinful spiritual state has been completely abolished (see Galatians 5:17), but it does mean that the primary spiritual motivation and direction of the believer is no longer dictated by that state, but by the Spirit.

For those who believe in Christ Jesus and have been set free by the power of the Spirit, there is no condemnation. No condemnation on Judgement day in the future (see Matthew 25:31-46) and no condemnation in the present – as our verse for today implies.

If, therefore, Satan is trying to condemn you concerning your past and present failures, then remind him of Romans 8:1. Remind him that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.