Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 10; Romans 8; Jeremiah 47; Psalm 23 & 24
Romans 8:3-4 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: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
There is nothing wrong with God's law. The Bible says the law of God is holy, just and good (Romans 7:12). The problem is with us! We are weak in our human flesh. We cannot keep the law of God because we are affected by sin. Since Adam's disobedience in the garden all humans have been born sinners and not able to do what God says we are to do. So the law could not help us in our sinful condition. It only condemns us and shows us that we are guilty before God (Romans 3:19-20). But what the law could not do, God did by sending his own Son.
Here is the glorious message of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. He came as a man in the likeness of sinful flesh. Now be careful! He was not sinful – the Bible is clear on that!
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.
He did not come in sinful flesh; he came in the likeness of sinful flesh. He came as a man and condemned sin in the flesh. Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to God in the flesh. He is the perfect man! He did this by living according to the law of God and by dying on the cross as a spotless sacrifice to take away the sin of the world. Now if we are in Christ the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us! Don't miss the significance of this! We can walk in righteousness when we have Jesus living in us. Righteousness does not come by keeping the law. It comes by trusting in Christ and allowing him to live his life in and through you!
Does the Spirit of Jesus live in you? Are you motivated by the love of God because the fruit of the Spirit is born in your life? That is what it means to walk in the Spirit. What a wonderful reality to know that in Jesus you are righteous. Now walk in that righteousness today.
In Christ,
Rody
