The law of sin and of death

Issue no. 20

  Scripture Reading: Rom. 8:1-4

  These four verses can be considered the most important passage in the whole Bible. A certain believer once said that the whole Bible is like a ring studded with a precious stone. The book of Romans is the precious stone on the ring, and chapter eight is like the light that shines from that stone. This may seem descriptive, but those who have experience will admit that it is true. Although Romans 8 is very clear, it is also very deep. Although it is very easy, at the same time, it is very hard. Romans 8:1-4 occupies a special place in this chapter. There are four chapters in Romans which are quite important; they are chapters five through eight. Chapter five speaks of forgiveness in Christ. Chapter six speaks of union in Christ. Chapter seven speaks of the flesh not being able to keep the law of God. And chapter eight speaks of the fulfillment of the righteousness of God's law in Christ. Romans 8:1-4 embodies the meaning of these four chapters. Verse 1 speaks of having no condemnation in Christ. Verse 2 speaks of union in Christ. Verse 3 speaks of that which the law could not do because it was weak through the flesh. Finally, verse 4 speaks of being able to do in Christ what otherwise could not be done. Hence, these four verses are the crystalization of the salvation that we have received.

  Before I speak on verses 1 through 4, I would like you to pay attention to one thing. What does Romans 7 speak about? Romans 7 says that "to will is present with me, but to work out the good is not" (v. 18). Brothers and sisters, is this not true? Many times, we make up our mind to do good, but we cannot work out our will. We know to do good, but we cannot do it. We do not want to love the world and we want to serve God, yet we cannot. Romans 7 can be summarized by one word: "cannot." Please remember that above every person's head the word "cannot" is written in big letters. If you have never tried to do good, you will not realize your inability. But if you seriously try to overcome, you will find that you cannot. Not only are you unable to perform things as profound as serving God, but you cannot even do a small thing such as getting up early in the morning to pray. You may want to read the Bible uninterruptedly every day of the year, but you cannot. These may be small things. Yet many Christians cannot do them. They may be able to do them for a day or two. At most they can do them for a week, after which they fail again. You may be well aware of a sin, yet you cannot remove the sin. For example, you may have a temper which is very difficult to overcome. There was once a believer with a bad temper who knew that he should not have such a temper. One day, one of the best vases in his house was broken by his servant. He was afraid of losing his temper if he looked at the broken vase, so he went to bed and covered his head with a blanket. But what is the difference between a temper under the blanket and a temper outside the blanket? Many Christians want to speak truthfully and not exaggerate. Yet they cannot. They fall once and they fall twice. Although they do not want to fall again, they find themselves falling still. They do not want to love the world. Yet they cannot avoid it. They want to live fully for God. Yet they cannot. Although they want to work for God, their hearts are distracted whenever they think of what others have achieved. Numerous experiences have proven to us that we cannot. In Romans 7, Paul told us only one thing: "cannot." He was desperate, and he said, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death?" (v. 24). Brothers and sisters, how many of you sitting here want to be free from jealousy and pride, and find that you cannot do it? How many of you do not want to love the world and find that you cannot stop loving the world? How many of you have willed to do good and found that you cannot do good? How many of you have failed once, twice, until you have given up trying to overcome? Is this word of mine merely a law which does nothing but serve as a mirror to expose you? No, here is the gospel.

  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. Brothers and sisters, have you seen this? 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 brothers and sisters, this book, 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 Shanghai, and you would lose your temper easily even if you go to Hangchow. 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. Brothers and sisters, 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.

  Brothers and sisters, 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.

  What does it mean to be in Christ? To be in Christ means to be joined to Him. We cannot be joined to Christ by ourselves, but when Christ died, God joined us in His death. We have died in the death of Christ and have been resurrected in the resurrection of Christ. When we believed in Christ, we believed into Christ. John 3:16 says, "That every one who believes into Him...would have eternal life." To believe means to believe into. By faith we are joined into Christ. Romans 6:3 says, "All of us who have been baptized into Christ..." When we believe and are baptized, that baptism puts us into Christ. This is faith. Although you cannot understand how you have been joined to Christ, it does not matter, for when you were baptized through faith, God joined you to Christ. There is not one saved Christian who is not in Christ; every one of them is in Christ.

  What have we received in Christ? Romans 8:1-2 reveals two things were done that are most precious, and for which we can thank and praise God! Christ dealt with our sins through His crucifixion, and Christ dealt with our death — our utter spiritual weakness — through His resurrection from the dead. In the same way that Christ overcame sin, we will overcome sin. In the same way that Christ overcame death, we will overcome death. We are freed in Christ, which means that we are liberated in Christ and are delivered from the law of sin and of death.

  I do not know what kind of law you have inside that does particular things, but I know that within you there is a law of sin and of death. You have your own particular law of sin and of death, but I can tell you that the law of the Spirit of life has freed you in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death. The law of the Spirit of life is the law of resurrection, which is the same law that caused the Lord to resurrect from the dead. The life that we received on the day we believed in the Lord is a resurrection life; it is also the regenerating life. When we believed in the Lord, we received not only a resurrection, we also received the law of the Spirit of life. This law frees and delivers us from the law of sin and of death. When we believed in the Lord, the Holy Spirit entered into our heart and dispensed to us the Lord's life which overcomes sin and death, so that we can overcome sin and death through the Spirit of life. Brothers and sisters, perhaps you do not understand this, but that is all right. All that you have to do is to lay hold of God's Word. You can say to God, "Your Word says that the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death." Does the Bible say that we are about to be freed? No. Does it say that we will be freed? No! The Bible says, "Freed!" I was like one who was imprisoned, and the law of sin and of death chained me with a chain that was even stronger than a jailer's chains. The law of sin and of death surrounded me, more than a prison cell surrounds a prisoner. But now, the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ. I am like one who has been released from prison. When a man receives the order that he will be released from prison, does he come out joyfully or does he come out wailing and weeping? The minute he is released, the very same minute, he comes out joyfully. It is the law of the Spirit of life that has freed me and has delivered me from the law of sin and of death. The freeing is the work of the Spirit, while deliverance is the result we have received.

  Brothers and sisters, would you hold onto God's Word by faith? Do you know how much this life includes? God not only saves you from sin and death, but He also saves you from the law of sin and of death. Are you ensnared by filthy thoughts, jealousies, and tempers? Would you believe that "the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death"? Let me ask, "Are you in Christ?" If you are in Christ, you are freed and delivered from the law of sin and of death. Would you believe that the sin that ensnared you, ensnared you even yesterday, has been unshackled in Christ? Even if you are the greatest sinner among one million people, would you believe that as soon as you lay hold of the Word, "the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death," that there is nothing that you cannot do? If I merely exhort you to be good today, what difference is there from the men of the world who exhort you to be moral and ethical? What difference is there from exhorting you to keep God's law? We thank God that the Bible tells us what God has done for us in Christ. As long as we believe, everything will be all right. There is not another way to victory in the whole world. You can buffet your body and deny yourselves. You may be able to overcome sin and death in this way. But you will not be able to overcome the law of sin and of death. Brothers and sisters, we can lift up our heads to thank the Lord, saying, "The law which causes me to constantly sin has been dealt with by You." There is no other way. All we have to do is to believe that, at the time we were saved, God freed us from the filthy and weak law through the Spirit in Christ. Once we believe, we overcome. As soon as we believe, the Holy Spirit will immediately work, and the law that has been enslaving us will not be able to control us any longer. I know that I have sinned, and I know the seriousness of the law of sin and of death. But I believe that in Christ the law of sin and of death will not have power over me.

  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. Suppose a man loves to drink. He can force himself once or twice not to drink, but he cannot remove from within him the desire for wine. I have a friend who was addicted to theatrical shows before he believed in the Lord. As soon as the gong and the drums sounded, he would be moved in his heart. Once in a village near our school, there was a theatrical show in honor of the idols, and the plays went on for three days and three nights. He attended the shows the whole time and did not go home for three days and three nights. When he became too tired, he fell on the floor and slept. After he woke up, he watched the shows again. He did this continuously for three days and three nights. After he believed in the Lord, the Lord delivered him from the law of sin and of death. Now he does not have to force himself not to go; there is something within him that makes him not want to go. This is how God delivers us from sin and death. 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 this book 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. Even if I have not given a good sermon today, 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, and you have gone home, 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."

  Brothers and sisters, I truly feel that it is easy to tell people to do good, but it is most difficult to exhort people to believe in God's Word. I have to tell you that without believing in God's Word, there is no victory.

  Why does verse 1 say that we are no longer powerless in Christ? Verse 2 explains the reason clearly. The reason is that we are in Christ and freed from the law of sin and of death. The reason for our powerlessness and bondage is the law of sin and of death. This law has entangled us and has caused us to do the things that we wish not to do. When we are in Christ, His resurrection life and the Holy Spirit free us and deliver us from the law of sin and of death. When we are in Christ, we are no longer powerless. But we have to remember that this freeing is in Christ. Therefore, this experience of no longer being powerless must also be in Christ. We cannot expect God to do something within us that will make us feel that we are quite good, sufficient, and can now overcome. There is no such a thing. We can only have the experience of no longer being powerless when we are in Christ. Once we are out of Christ, we are as powerless as before. This is why John 15 commands us to abide in Christ all the time.

  Romans 8:3 states, "For that which the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His own Son in the likeness of the flesh of sin and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh." This verse tells us that since the law could not do anything because it was weak through the flesh, God sent the Lord Jesus to the world to accomplish the work of redemption. On the one hand, He became a sacrifice for sin and died for us. On the other hand, He brought our sins to the cross and judged them there. In this way, sin has power no more.

  Romans 8:4 states, "That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit." This verse tells us that when we are in Christ, we will fulfill the righteous requirement of the law, accomplish God's will, and please God. Thank and praise the Lord. We believe today, we have power today, and we have victory.