On July 13, 2008, the 9th Sunday after Pentecost provides us with 3 readings including Isaiah 55:10-13, Romans 8:12-17 and Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23. Chosen to apply is Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Ask someone how they can know whether they are living according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. The answer of the vast majority of human beings is that the flesh sins but the Spirit does good works. They will say this even though in the previous chapter Paul, the apostle, admits that he can’t do the good he wants to do and finds himself doing the evil which he abhors.
In verse 2 of chapter 8 Paul speaks of the “Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Most Christians can figure out the law of sin and death; that is, you sin–you die! That law or principle is called the curse of the Law in which God revealed that in the day that you sin, you shall surely die. It’s what happened to Adam and Eve the day they sinned. For the death which is spoken of is the separation between them and God due to sin.
What most Christians cannot express adequately is this law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that frees us from the law of sin and death. For most of us, it sounds like the Spirit frees us from death by helping us no longer to sin. For they read that the law of sin and death means that when you sin, you get death. Thus, salvation must have something to do with me no longer sinning.
That is correct if you are talking about every other religion in the world besides Christianity. For they all teach in one form or another the need to obey, follow, imitate, agree with and so forth the will of God so that we are no longer doing, thinking or saying the things that would result in death. The method of salvation for every other religion in the world is to get rid of the cause which results in eternal death. The cause is sin; get rid of it.
However, the holy Trinity reveals something quite astounding. There are two parts to the law of sin and death; namely, sin and then death. While all other religions concentrate on getting rid of the cause that leads to death, the holy Trinity got rid of the consequence of sin; namely, death. Is it not clear that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, He did not save us by taking away our sin in the sense that we no longer sin. Of course not. Just look in the mirror of the Law.
The plan of salvation decided from before the foundation of the world was that the second Person of the Trinity would step in and take upon Himself the death that should have been ours. That was fulfilled with the words, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Answer: “Because You are experiencing the death that was to be the consequence of the sins of all mankind.”
The gift of the forgiveness of sins assumes that Christians still sin. We are saved not because we no longer sin but because the consequence for our sins has been paid for by Jesus Christ. Walking in the Spirit does not take place because the cause of eternal death is no longer happening. No, the cause; that is sin, still occurs day in and day out. What is no longer in play is the consequence of eternal separation from God for all those who cling through faith to His gracious promises.
For theologians of self-glory who imagine that salvation is evident through our good works, they put the cart before the horse. For though good works do occur in the life of the Christian, they in no way contribute to our being saved. For true salvation is the taking away of the curse of the Law and that didn’t take place because we stopped from sinning but because of the Gospel revelation that the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ did what was impossible for us to do–He became sin that we might be the righteousness of God in Him. What a paradoxical view of salvation indeed!
Name:Tom Baker
Tom, working on a sermon here, and I appreciate the way you wrote this:”While all other religions concentrate on getting rid of the cause that leads to death, the holy Trinity got rid of the consequence of sin; namely, death.” Hope you and Louise are well. The lord be with you. Kory
Pastor Tom,
after reading your article today I was reading Scriptures and this verse jumped off the page:
Rev 14:12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
Immediately I realized something has changed when I read verses like this.
Before, as a son of glory seeking, I began thinking about what I was going to do to “keep” the commandments of God and “keep” faith.
Boy, I tell you it is verses like this that tired me out, worried me because I tried and tried and sometimes succeeded and then I would go down! I ultimately would never overcome the law of sin and death working in my flesh.
Now, after listening and learning to “make” the proper distinctions between the Law and the Gospel, I find it is exciting again to read the Scriptures.
Yes, before, in the earlier days of being a disciple, so optimistic and positive about living a Godly Life, I read and read and read the Scriptures. But as time came and went and I began to have difficulties with this sin nature, succumbing to the nature of sin, I became discouraged with the frequent and continual nagging law of sin and death. No matter how much I prayed or fasted or read Scripture or went to Bible Study these deeds did not changed my sin nature. It disappointed me that I was so sinful and such a wretch!
But when my mind was opened to the “Law” of the Spirit of Life as the helper, not my own abilities a freshness came to me and now comes over me daily.
Now I am able to see clearly the work of the law of sin and death and rejoice with Paul and you and anyone wanting to “let” Christ be Christ to me and now He is my daily Savior.
Now when I read verses like that there in Revelation 14, I realize the Commandments have already been kept and the “Faith” is His Active, Living Faith, not my faith which God has already declared to be useless:
Rom 3:9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
Rom 3:10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
Rom 3:11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
Rom 3:12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
The saying, my loose paraphrase: “the law says do this, and it is never done, the Gospel says believe this and we realize it is already done for us” comforts my soul!
Now when I read Revelation 14:12 I apply both parts to myself and begin rejoicing all over again! I first start with the Law of sin and death and immediately begin rejoicing afterwards looking at the Gospel anew because I realize and see and understand that the burden shifts from me “doing it” to what Christ has already done, He did it for me already. Now, I receive continual daily forgiveness and rejoice! Now it is clear to me what is meant when we read what He said:::>
Joh 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”
Joh 19:29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
Joh 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Michael
Eureka, Ca.