SCRIPTURE: Romans (NIV) 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature; God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so, he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
OBSERVATION: Praise God that the Law of Moses was not God’s final answer for sin! That the law could not bring righteousness into the lives of those following it is clearly seen by the fact that sacrifices for breaking the law were given at the very same time the law was given. God did not give the law and then wait for 200 – 300 years to see how well man was doing in keeping it. He knew from the beginning that man could not keep the law, and so He gave the sacrifices to cover the sin. The sacrifices were just as weak; the blood of bulls and goats could never cover sin.
People have no hope of ever meeting the righteous demands of the law. But there was an offering so powerful that it could not only pay for sin but purify the heart! It was an offering that would only need to be given ONCE, for all time! God had been willing to accept the sacrifices of animals because He knew the power of that ONE offering!
The righteousness of the law is not some dream that has no chance of ever being lived. As I receive Christ, I receive the end of the law. He has forever completed the law and now He lives in me! The Perfect Law Keeper lives in me.
When I followed the law, I was always looking for another sacrifice and saying “I will never be able to do everything required. It is beyond me.” Now that I follow the Spirit I say, “We (the Holy Spirit and me) can do this. With His help, this is possible!”
APPLICATION: I still from time to time stop to repent of something I have done, BUT now my emphasis is not on a set of rules, but on the Spirit. I am not focusing on the law, but on the Spirit, and on what the Spirit is speaking into my life. Even more than focusing on the Spirit, I am following the Spirit. I am putting into action what He directs.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you sent your Son, Jesus, to take care of sins I have or may commit. And you sent your Holy Spirit to live in me and help me take care of the present temptations I face. Teach me to listen carefully to Him. Amen
Pastor Leon
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