Devotions - Read Online
Tuesday | 18 December 2018
The apostle Paul declared that there ‘is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’. Rom 8:1. Why is this so? First, in obedience to the Father, Jesus took our condemnation upon Himself as a sin offering. 2Co 5:21. Luk 22:42. Through His death, He bore the full judgement and penalty of the Law that is associated with our sin. Once He died, the Law no longer had dominion over Him. In other words, having died, He was no longer being judged by the Law. Rom 7:1.
Second, Christ took the Law out of the way. He did this so that we would no longer relate to the Law in the same way that the Old Covenant demanded. The Law is a hindrance to us because of the self-centredness of our heart. It brings us under judgement because we are unable to obey its commands. Christ removed the Law, and nailed it to the cross. Col 2:13-14. Now, in Christ, the Law is no longer our reference point for life.
When we are baptised into Christ’s death, we are delivered from the condemnation associated with our sin. This is because, in Him, we cease from trying to keep God’s Law from the basis of our own self-righteousness. Instead, we live by the law of the Spirit of life. Rom 8:2. The Holy Spirit joins us, in one Spirit, to the Lord. 1Co 6:17.
In the fellowship of Christ’s offering and circumcision, the other law is progressively removed from us, and we are ceasing from sin. As the apostle Peter wrote, ‘Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men [i.e. according to the other law], but for the will of God.’ 1Pe 4:1‑2.
Further Study:
Romans 8
Daily Proverb:
References:
Rom 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2Co 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Luk 22:42
Saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’
Rom 7:1
Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
Col 2:13-14
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Rom 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
1Co 6:17
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
1Pe 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.