October 6, 2002

TWO LAWS, TWO WALKS

Romans 8:1-4

   "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death, for what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: in order that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but [walk] after the spirit" (Romans 8:2-4). We began with two laws and ended with two walks. What a change!

   The working of "the law of sin and death" has been evident: "I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin...in my members" (7:23), and "So the...with the flesh [I serve] the law of sin" (7:25). We read that the law has dominion "as long as a man lives." And the dominion of sin and death were implied even in Romans 5:12, "by one man sin entered...and death [entered] by sin." Again, "death reigned..." (5:14), and "by one offence death reigned by one..." (5:17), "by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation..." (5:18), "by one man's disobedience many were made sinners..." (5:19). Continuing "Christ being raised from the dead dies no more, death has no more dominion over Him" (6:9), and "let not sin...reign in your mortal body" (6:12), and "sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (6:14). Such have been its operations.

   Now we see the workings of the glorious law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus: whereas "the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification" (5:16), and "by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life" (5:18), and "by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous..." (5:19), and "even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (5:21).

   Two walks result from two laws. The mind of the flesh is enmity against God and not subject to the law of God, such then "walk after the flesh." But those who delight in the law of God "after the inward man," and whose renewed mind "serves the law of God," the "righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled" by their walk in spirit and love.

Ivan L. Burgener