Rom. 8:1-4
Romans 8:1 says, "There is now then
no condemnation to those who are in
Christ Jesus." "Now" means that
yesterday is over and that there is a
way. Now in Christ there is a way. How
precious this is!
A scholar in Greek demonstrated that
according to reliable manuscripts the
word condemnation has two kinds of
usages. The first is in the legal sense,
while the other is in the civil sense.
The civil sense is the common usage.
According to the civil sense, the word
condemnation means "powerless,"
and "restricted." Brothers and sisters,
from this verse we can find
immeasurable comfort! Indeed, a
person who is in Christ is no longer
condemned legally, and as far as his
flesh is concerned, he is powerless no
more. There are no more restrictions
in Christ. What Paul complained he
was unable to do can, now be done
in Christ.
Romans 8:2 says, "For the law of the
Spirit of life has freed me in Christ
Jesus from the law of sin and of
death." Please notice that it speaks of
two laws here: the law of the Spirit of
life and the law of sin and of death.
Why does it say "the law of the Spirit
of life" in Christ frees us from "the law
of sin and of death," rather than "the
Spirit of life" frees us from "sin and
death"? What is the difference
between "the Spirit of life" and "the
law of the Spirit of life"? What is the
difference between "sin and death"
and "the law of sin and of death"?
Sin is an inward power. The law of sin
is the habit of sin. For example, there
is the force of gravity. Whenever we
drop something, it is attracted by the
force of gravity. The force of gravity
becomes a law because it pulls down
everything by habit. If I drop a book
here, it will fall to the ground. If I drop
the book in another place, it will still
fall to the ground. This is the effect of
a law. If a book falls when it is
dropped here, but does not fall when
it is dropped elsewhere, then it is not
governed by a law. Anything habitual,
anything that produces the same
result from the same action is a law.
Sin is one thing, and the law of sin is
another. We sin because within us
there is the law of sin. This is like a
book falling to the ground because
there is the law of gravity. Our
sinning is a law. We do not sin or fall
by accident. To sin is a habit, and to
fall is a habit. Both sinning and falling
have become a law. A law is
something that will give the same
result anywhere and in every way
when given the same action. If our
sinning is accidental and not caused
by a law of sin, there are still ways to
solve it. For example, if you sin
because your environment is bad or
your job is bad, you can change the
environment or change jobs, and you
will then stop sinning.But, the Bible, tells
us that we do not sin by accident, but
by a law of sin. Suppose you lose your
temper easily. You would lose your
temper easily in Lagos, and you
would lose your temper easily even if
you go to Abuja. You lose your
temper easily in your business. But if
you change your job, you will still lose
your temper easily. No matter when
or where, your temper will break out. the Bible shows
us that a law of sin has firmly grasped
us. It may be possible to overcome
sin, and it may be possible to
overcome death, but it is impossible
to overcome the law of sin and of
death!.........

Why does the Bible say "the law of sin
and of death" instead of "the law of
sin" and "the law of death"? This is
because sin and death are just one
law. The law of sin and of death are
not two laws, but two aspects of one
law. With respect to sin, this law has a
habit to positively commit many sins.
With respect to death, this law
deprives one of the power to keep the
demands of the law. This is on the
negative side. Many people do not
understand the meaning of "death."
"Death" means to be weak to the
uttermost, to be without any strength,
and to be without life. Death is a law
because weakness and powerlessness
are our habitual experience. Romans
7 emphasizes these two things. Paul
said, "I do not do the good which I
will"—this refers to death, and "the
evil which I do not will, this I
practice"—this refers to sin (v. 19). All
the problems we encounter daily
within ourselves are the result of the
law of sin and of death. Many times,
we do not have the strength to do
what we desire to do, and we do not
have the strength to not do what we
do not want to do.
we need to see
how evil the law of sin and of death is!
Not only should we hate sin, but we
should hate the law of sin and of
death. We are so helpless before this
law. But praise and thank the Lord, He
has a total salvation. God's salvation
does not deal with our individual sins.
God's salvation deals with the root,
the law...................

Formerly, when we
encountered the same temptations,
we produced the same results. But
we do not have to have the same
results now. This is the difference
between having the law of the Spirit
and not having the law of the Spirit.
Apart from this, there is no victory.
Romans 8:2 says, "For the law of the
Spirit of life has freed me in Christ
Jesus from the law of sin and of
death." Where are we freed from the
law of sin and of death? We are freed
in Christ Jesus. I have to say
"Hallelujah! All is well in Christ Jesus."
The Bible does not say that in Christ
we will be condemned, nor does it
say that in Christ we will sin. It says
that in Christ there is no more
condemnation, and in Him we are
free.........

Gravity is a law, but if you hold a book
with your hand, the power of the
hand overcomes the law of gravity. It
does not mean that the law of gravity
is removed; it merely means that
another law has overcome it. In the
same principle, the law of the Spirit of
life frees me from the law of sin and
of death. The law of sin and of death
has not been annulled, but another
law prevents me from being ensnared
by the law of sin and of death.
Consequently, I do not feel that there
is a law of sin and of death. Suppose
the government has a law that forbids
robbery. If I never have the inclination
to be a robber, the law has nothing to
do with me. It does not mean that
there is no such a law; it merely
means that I have never wanted to be
a robber; therefore, I never feel the
existence of the law.
Sin is an outward act, while a law is
an inward demand. If a man
overcomes sin, he has only overcome
isolated acts. If he overcomes the law
of sin, he has overcome the demand
of the law of sin.
God
delivers man first from within so that
man will not be bound by the inward
law. After this, there will
spontaneously be good conduct
without.
God frees us from the law of sin and
of death; He does not make the law of
sin and of death depart from us.
Suppose that I do not want the book in my hands
to fall on the ground. I do not have to
exert all of my strength to remove the
force of gravity. All I have to do is to
hold this book. The law of gravity may
still be there, but the gripping force in
my hand has overcome it. Although
the law of gravity is still there, it has
been made of no effect. God's way of
salvation is not to remove the fiery
serpents, but to set up the bronze
serpent (John 3:14)............

We thank and praise God that He can
save us to such an extent that we can
overcome the demand of the law of
sin. as long as you hold
onto God's Word, everything will be
all right. God says that the law of the
Spirit of life has freed me in Christ
Jesus from the law of sin and of
death. I have been freed from the law
of sin and of death. From now on, I
am a freed man. However, after you
have believed this way, the law of sin may
appear to still be there. You may ask
yourself, "In the meeting I believed
that I am freed from the law of sin
and of death. Why does it seem to still
be there?" At such times Satan will
come and accuse you, saying, "What
difference has believing made to you?
When you did not believe, you were
like this. Now that you believe, you are
still like this." At such times your faith
is being tested. If you ignore your
feelings and the accusations at such
times, you will overcome. You cannot
keep yourself by being more cautious
or alert. God's word will keep you.
What God says counts. When the first
temptation comes and you stand fast,
you have overcome. God has to test
your faith to see if it is real, and you
also have to test if the salvation in
God's Word is real. If the faith is not
real, you will not receive God's
blessing. But if we believe and say to
God, "I hold onto Your Word. What
You say counts. For this reason, I
believe that I am freed from the law
of sin and of death." When God
removes the veil, you will see what
facts have been accomplished in
Christ. Please remember that your
eyes have to be set on God and not
on yourselves. The Bible has never
asked you to look at yourselves or to
look at your experience. The righteous
live by faith. We need faith to be
saved, and we need faith to
overcome. We have to glorify God at
the time of temptations. Satan will say,
"After all the believing, you are still the
same." You have to say, "After all that
you have done, I still believe." Satan
will say, "God's Word may not be
true." You have to say, "God's Word is
true, and only the devil is a liar."...........