Romans 7:5–6: For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
So the first pillar of wisdom regarding our relationship with the Law is that our marriage to it has been dissolved by our identification with the death of Christ. As a result we are married to him and the Law has no claims on us. The result of the dissolution of our marriage to the Law is “that we serve in the new way of the Spirit.” Instead of despair, there is joy! Instead of bondage, there is freedom! Instead of death, there is life! 1
I do not work my soul to save; That work my Lord hath done.
But I will work like any slave, For love of God’s dear Son.
The Christian life is Christ living His life through us today. We can’t do it ourselves, nor can we do it by the law. There is nothing wrong with the Law, the problem is with us. 2
Application
- How do you know when you are following sinful passions?
- How do you know when you are following spirit-led passions?
Prayer
Lord, help me to run quickly from sinful passions and walk confidently in Spirit-led passions.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
2. Hughes, R. K. (1991). Romans: righteousness from heaven. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
