“But does this mean that what is good caused my death? By no means! It was sin that did it; by using what is good, sin brought death to me, in order that its true nature as sin might be revealed. And so, by means of the commandment sin is shown to be even more terribly sinful.” (Romans 7:13)
This Scripture seems confusing, but let’s consider. It’s talking about the Law that the Jew followed and some still follow. It’s a law of dos and don’ts in order to be righteous. The Law was good and still is good. But no one can keep the Law. No one can be that righteous. We fail. It shows us that we cannot be righteous on our own effort. We may try, but we will always fail in some way to keep the complete Law. It revealed sin in us. It reveals our inability to be righteous. Alas! What a curse! What a condemnation for man. We are lost! We are dead because sin is death. The Law showed sin in our lives.
And that sin is not minor. A lie is equal to murder. Lies are of the father of lies, satan. Murder is too. The devil is a liar and a murderer. Anything coming from the devil, if we connect with it, we are distancing ourselves from God. Jesus said, “You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father's desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.” (John 8:44) We cannot escape condemnation because we cannot keep the Law. It revealed that sin is in us. It revealed that death is our sentence.
But God! God supplied the Lamb needed for the sacrifice of our sin. Not yearly as the priests had to do each year in the Old Testament. …not a sacrifice of innocent animals. But the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, the Son of God, innocent of sin, dying for the sinful. God reaches to us. God supplies what we need. His Love is expressed in His salvation. His Love is demonstrated in His sacrifice.
Now, the Law is good. Although no man could keep it, there was One Who did. That was Jesus. He kept all the Law. Only He is sinless. He kept it for us. Do we have to keep the Law? Yes and no is the answer. The Law is written in our hearts. “"This is the covenant that I will make with them in the days to come, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts and write them on their minds." (Hebrews 10:16) When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, believing in Him and promising to follow Him in obedience, we receive the Holy Spirit immediately. But also we receive the Law written in our hearts. We know what is right and what is wrong. No one has to read the Law to us. We want to do right. And the Holy Spirit empowers us more and more as we obey each time. So, yes, we keep the Law in Jesus. And no, we don’t adhere to the do’s and don’ts because they are now part of us. We walk by faith in Jesus. If we stumble, we repent and continue. Why is it that easy? Because…our new spirit is born of God and sinless. We sin in our flesh and in our soul (mind will, emotions), but not our spirit. “I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26) That new mind that Ezekiel is talking about is one that is being transformed. “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to Him and is perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
Sin is death. Any sin is death. Have nothing to do with it. It separates us from fellowship with the Lord. If you do fall into sin, repent and turn from it. Make a decision not to sin like that again. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Soon, there will be victory over that weakness. But be aware. The Lord will keep revealing other weaknesses. This is the process of making us into the image of Christ; of perfecting us. We need to allow the Lord to do His perfect work in us. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He will complete in us what He started.
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