What the Law of the Spirit of Life Accomplishes

What the Law of the Spirit of Life Accomplishes

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom. 8:2.

In this Scripture there are three laws: 1) the law of the Spirit of life; 2) the law of sin; and 3) the law of death. The law of the Spirit of life is the strongest, for it is able to set me free from the law of sin and death.

The law of sin compels the ungodly to commit sin. The lusts in their bodies make their demands, and the mind obeys the lusts. Desire conceives and gives birth to sin. Judgment comes as soon as a person has sinned, and if the person rejects God’s judgment instead of complying with it, his conscience will become dead to this sin. Sin becomes full-grown, and the law of death takes hold. The person is dead in trespasses and sins.

We see that committing sin becomes commonplace for the ungodly—they do it without any protest from their conscience. Only when they go one step further into sin does their conscience again make its presence known. If they also reject chastisement for this sin, they will go deeper into death and will enter further and further into ungodliness. Notice that their mind (the will) always goes along with and approves of the ungodliness, and that is why condemnation comes.

The body that presents itself to sin by the law of sin and death is called “the body of flesh.” Col. 2:11 (Norw.). This body is to be circumcised through the circumcision of Christ and buried with Him through baptism. The body of flesh is also called the foreskin. Israel of old was circumcised by the removal of the foreskin, but the circumcision of the heart belongs to the Israel of the new covenant.

The law of the Spirit of life works to convince us in our mind. If we listen to it and obey it, we will be led to Christ, the Minister of the circumcision. He will circumcise our heart and free us from the body of flesh (the body that was presented as an instrument to sin). The law of sin will cease to function, because we serve the law of God with our mind. Rom. 7:25. As a result, there will no longer be condemnation in our mind, because our mind is in Christ Jesus. Then what is written comes to pass: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1.

However, if you believe that the law of sin has been taken away (something I know many people teach), you are grossly mistaken. Sin lies at the door (in our members), but we have received power to rule over it, and that is why there is no condemnation. The moment a person gives in to sin, condemnation returns. That is why it is written, “If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,” and so on. Heb. 10:26.

We must use the law of the Spirit of life to keep our flesh crucified with its lusts and desires. Just as we first overcame the law of sin and death through this law, we must continue to subdue the lusts in the flesh through the same law. In other words, we must flee the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Pet. 1:4.

The law of the Spirit of life attacks and displaces the lusts in our members to a greater and greater extent. What takes place in our life is the same as what happened to Israel when they entered the land. They were led to their enemies. The law of the Spirit of life leads us to the corruption that is in our own flesh; we condemn it and become increasingly united with the law of the Spirit of life. As a result, what became a reality in Jesus Christ becomes a reality in us: sin was condemned in the flesh before it was conceived. Read Romans 8:3. There is no condemnation during this process. On the contrary, those who choose to suffer in the flesh instead of sinning are worthy of all honor. In this way, the law of the Spirit of life penetrates more and more deeply into the body. We go from light to light, from power to power, from glory to glory. But we must be faithful in facing all this light and judgment. This is how the way is made through the veil, that is His flesh, and the whole fullness of God comes to dwell in our body to an ever-increasing degree. How beautiful it is! How glorious and how blessed it is that we poor mortals are the object of such a thorough work and such an intimately personal love. May we in return exhibit humility and be faithful to this law of the Spirit of life, so we can be an honor for Christ on that Day.