Freedom by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus
Thinking about Romans 8:2.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
Why is there now no condemnation to those who are in Christ?
Because they have been set free according to another law. This law comes from outside of mankind. This law “doesn’t throw man back on man to save himself” (McGuiggan, Romans, 224).
What is this law that had set Paul and other Christians free? It’s “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”
I believe “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” is how Paul is referring to the gospel (Romans 1:16) - which is God’s power to salvation. Paul described how being buried with Christ through baptism in death - imitating the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus - set them free from sin (Romans 6:4-7).
Freedom from the “law of sin and death” is only offered to those “in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
To those who are “in Christ” the law of sin has been crushed, death is vanquished and the Devil is battered. Something to smile about? Sure! Something to share? Sure! Something to be sure about? Sure! - McGuiggan, Romans, 225
Freedom did not - and does not - come by the Law of Moses (Romans 8:3). Freedom does not come by our own good deeds, attempted to “earn” or “merit” our salvation from sin.
Freedom - “no condemnation” - only comes “to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
And the wonderful news is that while “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and deserve the wages of their sin (Romans 6:23), freedom from the “death sentence” we have earned is freely offered by our gracious God through His Son and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Well done, Jameson.