Romans 7:6 – “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”

In verses 4 and 5 of Romans 7, Paul tells us we are dead to the Law which aroused our sinful passions. Telling a child, “No,” “Don’t,” “Stop,” often causes him to want to do it all the more. And so it is with us adults as well; we have disciplined ourselves to say no to our passions for various reasons: custom of family, social acceptance, to get in someone’s good graces. The point is that we still have to say no to our outward actions when in our minds the desire is still there. We may even fantasize about it. And if not fantasize, we may at least grumble within about having to go against our desires. This is the letter of the Law: Obeying it for all the wrong reasons, actually forcing ourselves to against our natural bent. That oftentimes leads to “overkill” – going beyond what the Law states and acting as if that were Law as well.

In Christ, we are dead to the Law, we are dead to the burden of guilt it once put upon us. We are dead to the constant demands of condemnation and judgment. It no longer governs and taunts us. Now we are alive in Christ and we serve Him in love and hopeful expectation whereas we used to serve the law in anger, fear and dread. The Spirit of Christ within causes us to love the Law, which is the expression and portrait of the character of our dear Savior and Lord. The Law informs us of the holy character of our Lord and surely – because He has loved us so much and rescued us from death and judgment – surely we would love Him back by modeling ourselves after His character. Now the Law has become our guideline, not our angry condemner.

Paul goes on in the chapter to explain the constant tension under which all true Christians live: the presence of sin in the flesh. Those sinful desires plague us. Oh, we are usually able to conquer the biggies. But sin is insidious. Those desires to be “one up,” lording it over, thinking more highly of oneself, ungodly motivations – they are all still there and we must continue to fight them, sometimes mourning over them, sometimes angry or frustrated, sometimes wimping out and giving in.

I am so thankful that God does not condemn me in my weakness: my disability to conquer myself and my love for my sin. Instead He uses it all for my sanctification. He doesn’t desert me nor leave me here in my muddles and messes. His Spirit lifts me up by reminding me of His promises. God will never fail me.