What does Paul mean that the Spirit is our law in Romans 8?
Paul presents the indwelling Holy Spirit as the believer's governing principle, or "law," in Romans 8. After chapter 7's defeat and the Mosaic Law's weakness through the flesh, the Spirit enables victory over the old Adam, becoming the effective law within the believer.
Les explains that in the first seven chapters of Romans, Paul lays the groundwork of how we ended up in sin and under condemnation, and how Christ died so we might be justified and forgiven. Chapter 7 presents the dilemma of overcoming the old Adam and being kept in defeat. The answer is Romans chapter 8: the Holy Spirit. Les says it is that indwelling Spirit that now becomes our Law, if you want to put it that way. The context of verse 3 shows Paul is not merely talking about a fact of everyday life like the law of gravity or the law of sin and death; he is talking about the Mosaic Law, the Ten Commandments, or the whole sphere of Judaism. That Law could not do what was needed because it was weak through the flesh.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
How does the indwelling Holy Spirit become the believer's law in Romans 8?
In Romans 8, after Paul lays the groundwork about sin, condemnation, and justification, the answer to the old Adam's dilemma is the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit becomes the believer's law, in contrast to the Mosaic Law, which was weak through the flesh.
What does the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus do for us according to Romans 8:2?
The law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus gives us a fact of life we can experience seven days a week. It totally sets us apart from the other fact of life, sin and death, which has been tied together since Adam sinned and brought death. The Gospel is the only remedy.
More Questions
What law is Paul talking about in Romans 8:2?
In Romans 8:2, the law being discussed is not merely a fact of everyday life like the Law of Gravity or the Law of Sin and Death; Paul is talking about the Mosaic Law, the Ten Commandments.
How do you know what Paul means by 'law' in Romans 8:2?
When Paul uses the word 'law', you must use the context to determine which law he means, because sometimes the word 'law' refers simply to a fact of everyday living rather than to a written legal code.
How should the word 'law' be interpreted in Romans 8:2?
When studying the word 'law' in Romans 8:2, you must decide from the context what kind of 'law' is meant, because sometimes the word refers to a simple fact of everyday life, like the law of gravity.