| Romans 8:3-4 "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Why was Paul so sure when he declared, back in Romans 8:1, that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"? It's because, in versus 3, Christ "in the likeness of sinful man" was condemned for our sin. Condemnation as a term in court of law means that the sinful men must wait for the sentencing from God; however, because Jesus was incarnated into the form of a sinful man, but he is not sinful. That means while He had the form of a sinner, He did not sin, and that's why He could take on the penalty for sin from God and the justice of God was satisfied. Therefore, God can now declare that those who are in Christ will not be condemned and the righteousness of law will be fulfilled in us. In order word, I was a condemned sinner waiting to be sentenced, but now not only will I not need to be sentenced, but I am called a righteous man. This is a unprecedented wonder, but it is just the mighty work of God. Of course, this is not something that can be accomplished naturally; the righteousness of law is accomplished in those of us who "do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." What does it mean to "not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit"? It means we become sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. To those of us who believe in the Lord, we belong to God and the Holy Spirit has been living inside us since the day we accepted the Lord. He also continuously guided us in our life as long as we are willing to listen. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will speak to us through listening to a sermon, reading God's Word, or the circumstance around us. Whichever way it is, we need to have a sensitive heart to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and to follow it. When the Lord came to earth, there was a man named Simeon who, in Luke chapter 2, received the Holy Spirit. He received revelation from the Holy Spirit and knew that he will see Christ before he passed away, and then he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to enter the temple. It was a series of acts of submission to the Holy Spirit that brought victory to him, and thus the righteousness of God was manifested. 
Pray with Pastor Tong Liu Lord, I thank you because you died for me so that I could live for you. May the Spirit of the Lord elevate us to be more sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit so that we can follow you and become holy. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen! |
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