Bound To Obey
That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:4
Some people believe that since we are saved by grace and are no longer under the law, then we are no longer bound to the law. That’s true in this sense: we are not bound to the penalty of the law. Since we came to Christ, the law no longer has power to condemn or execute us. However, we are bound to its precepts, for God has not changed His morality.
The apostle Paul said, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:1-3). The sacrifice of Christ freed us from the penalty of the law—He died in our place. So we are free from the law only in the sense that it cannot condemn us, yet we are still commanded to obey its precepts.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 284). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: It is true that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But that does not mean that the old testament Law has been invalidated. In fact, Christ Himself said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Mat 5:17). The law is based on the holy and righteous nature of God. It was revealed to man through the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1-21) and Christ's Greatest Commandments (Mat 22:34-40). God calls us to be Holy as He is Holy, so we are still bound to obey His moral law, but by Christ's grace and mercy, we have been freed from the penalty of the law. We are filled by the Holy Spirit who has written the law on our hearts (Jer 31:33) and who has empowered us to fulfill and obey it.
Applications: We shouldn't blindly follow traditions and ceremonial laws for the sake of pleasing men, or outwardly appearing righteous. But we are still under the law's authority, because the law comes from God and is based on His holy and righteous nature. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are now able to follow and obey God's law. We can now lead lives pleasing and honoring to God. Every Christian can now manifest the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. Because we have been freed from the penalty of sin, we can now live as willing bond-servants of Christ and of righteousness.
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would be a willing servant of Christ and of righteousness. Pray that I would no longer follow the law out of fear of it's penalty, but that the Holy Spirit, would empower me to grow spiritually and obey God's law in truth and in love. Pray that I would continue to study God's word and that I would please and honor Him by walking according to His law.
Listen to this entry
Romans 8:4
Some people believe that since we are saved by grace and are no longer under the law, then we are no longer bound to the law. That’s true in this sense: we are not bound to the penalty of the law. Since we came to Christ, the law no longer has power to condemn or execute us. However, we are bound to its precepts, for God has not changed His morality.
The apostle Paul said, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:1-3). The sacrifice of Christ freed us from the penalty of the law—He died in our place. So we are free from the law only in the sense that it cannot condemn us, yet we are still commanded to obey its precepts.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 284). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: It is true that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But that does not mean that the old testament Law has been invalidated. In fact, Christ Himself said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Mat 5:17). The law is based on the holy and righteous nature of God. It was revealed to man through the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1-21) and Christ's Greatest Commandments (Mat 22:34-40). God calls us to be Holy as He is Holy, so we are still bound to obey His moral law, but by Christ's grace and mercy, we have been freed from the penalty of the law. We are filled by the Holy Spirit who has written the law on our hearts (Jer 31:33) and who has empowered us to fulfill and obey it.
Applications: We shouldn't blindly follow traditions and ceremonial laws for the sake of pleasing men, or outwardly appearing righteous. But we are still under the law's authority, because the law comes from God and is based on His holy and righteous nature. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are now able to follow and obey God's law. We can now lead lives pleasing and honoring to God. Every Christian can now manifest the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. Because we have been freed from the penalty of sin, we can now live as willing bond-servants of Christ and of righteousness.
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would be a willing servant of Christ and of righteousness. Pray that I would no longer follow the law out of fear of it's penalty, but that the Holy Spirit, would empower me to grow spiritually and obey God's law in truth and in love. Pray that I would continue to study God's word and that I would please and honor Him by walking according to His law.
Listen to this entry
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