42. Free from Sin and Death
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
One Law frees me from the other Law. The liberating feeling of being free from the law of sin and death is like the emancipation of a slave. Sin and Death no longer rule my life and tell me what to think and what to do. These tyrants are cruel and mean and do not have our best interests in mind. The law of sin and death is an iron rule that is unyielding in producing guilt and fear. This law does not compromise or allow for mercy. The only end result of this law is despair. But being set free I have hope.
The other Law is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Christ has delivered me from the law of sin and death and transferred me to another loving master: the law of the Spirit of life. Life now rules me instead of death. Grace now rules instead of Sin. This new law does not force me to do anything, but it is the influence of love and mercy that compels me to want to submit to a new loving master. This new law lets me do what I want; the difference is that my wants have been changed: I want to do good works and serve others; I want to make other people blessed by what I do and say; I want to follow the will of God instead of my own selfish desires. In other words, the Lord has given me a different set of wants and desires. This law also gives me a new ability.
The Law of the Spirit does not just make rules with dire consequences if I do not obey them; but it also gives me the ability to desire and do what the Spirit leads me graciously to follow. The law of sin forces me to do what I do not want and to do what is not good for me. The Law alone gives me no power to do it; it only accuses and condemns for failure. The Law and the Gospel gives me the power to do what God and I together really want to do. One Law enslaves; the other Law frees and enables. The Law of the Spirit is the Gospel, which I need to hear regularly. The daily result of listening to the Gospel is the freedom and power to live a glorious life. The promise of freedom gives a substantial power.