2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
has made me free [set me free] from the law of sin and death.
In Romans 7:24 Paul speaks of the sin capacity or the power of sin, but here he refers to the guilt of sin from which God freed us on the cross.
The Greek meaning of the words “set me free” is an action that definitely took place at one point in the past (aorist indicative). The liberation from the law of sin capacity and death was accomplished on the cross. This is something that has definitely taken place (indicative). This is not something we struggle to obtain; we already possess this freedom. It is a normal principle that flows from our salvation.
This is not a statutory law or a law made by legislation. It is a natural law. An example of natural law is that our heart beats while we are alive; we do not have to tell it to beat because it beats naturally. In the same way, there is a freedom of the Spirit that works in every Christian bringing us to conformity to the Lord Jesus.
Ro 6:18, 20, And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
It is the liberation by the Spirit that sets the believer at liberty. The liberation by Christ allowed for the liberation of the Spirit. The liberation is freedom from the sin capacity’s reign over one’s life and the freedom to fulfill the law.
The law is both the law of sin and of death. The law threatens death by breaking its standards. It brings the sinner under the penalty of death. There is no sin or death without the law.
The law of domination of the Holy Spirit liberates the believer from the rule of sin and death. The “law of sin” is the principle that governs conduct. This is what made Paul a prisoner (7:23). The “law of sin” is the corruption that acts with the force of a law.
Ga 3:21, Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
Christians can break the power of the sin capacity by living under the indwelling power of the Spirit. He is the dynamic of our union in Christ. Whenever we live the Christian life in our own strength, we end in defeat. Romans seven shows the result of not living by the indwelling Spirit.
The reason the believer has freedom with God lies in the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit who dwells permanently in every Christian. He works in each Christian with the fixedness of an ongoing principle or law. Sanctification is the necessary fruit of justification and the indwelling Spirit.
PRINCIPLE:
The regulative principle of the Christian life is the indwelling life of the Spirit in us.
APPLICATION:
Christ already accomplished our liberation by placing us “in Him.” It is not that God will free us but that He has freed us from the law of sin and death. This ensures the believer of fully sharing in Christ’s resurrection, final acquittal, and glory. The Christian is free from the penalty of sin and death both now and for all eternity. The triumph of Christ’s work on our behalf is finished forever. This is the basis for our sanctification.
Every Christian is subject to two regulative principles. Sin and death are inseparable. Sin always brings death. The other regulative principle is that of the Spirit. Life is the inevitable outcome of a relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit and life are inseparable. Anyone who has the Spirit has life. The regulative principle of the Spirit of life drives out the regulating principle of sin and death. All this is based on what Christ did on the cross. The Holy Spirit applied what Christ did on the cross to our lives. This broke the connection between sin and death. The principle of sin bringing death no longer applies because of this. Our position in Christ liberated us forever and is the basis for “no condemnation” in verse one.
