Scripture
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God
7 Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin
22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,
23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord
Observation
Paul’s has a “tug-o-war” occurring in him between the “law of God” and the “law of sin”.
Paul is stating the significance of God’s law, but not for its saving power for its revealing power.
It shows me who I am.
What is a straight line without something to show the line is straight.
In this way the law can be celebrated … it actually reveals my need to be saved.
Then I can celebrate my Savior … Jesus Christ!
Application
I can see in Paul’s statements about the law how much the early words of Joshua can make sense now …
Meditate on the Law day and night …
And again the first words of David in psalms …
Meditate on the Law day and night ….
Paul actually says the law of God becomes the “law of my mind”!
He knows it … he concentrates on it … So much that it becomes a part of him.
I need to focus on the Word of God and understand that the laws of God come from outside of myself …
And then I can find not only relief but celebration in the first words of John when he says …
In the beginning was the Word … and the word became flesh ….
It’s all about Jesus … it’s always been all about Jesus …
All of it … all the law … ultimately should continuously point me to Jesus ….
And not just that I reject the law …
But I belong to God … I’m accepted ….
Is there any greater thing in the world than to be accepted … by God …through Christ!
There is NO hope for “self-improvement” … I need to be “delivered”, as Paul says.
Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Prayer
Thank you, God, again, for your Word
Thank you that it reveals my weakness and your strength
Thank you that you deliver me
In Jesus name
Amen