The Law of the Spirit

Since Christians are not under any quality of law, how are Christians supposed to govern their lives? What influences their actions?

Even though we have struggles with our sin nature, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1 "Therefore now there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus." There is no condemnation because we are not under the Law.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set up free from the law of the sin nature and the death," Romans 8:2

Understanding the word "law": In the English language we use the same word to describe multiple concepts. Law can refer to the rules that govern over people or it can refer to something that happens naturally. The laws of our City, State, or Government control what we are allowed to do in our daily lives. The laws of nature are not laws that control us, but rather things that happen naturally. When we use the word "law" for the laws of nature, the concept of law would fall more under the word "principles". The same difference exists between any law that governs our action before God, and the law of the Spirit. The law of the Spirit is not a set of rules that we live by, rather, it related to our actions when we walk by the Spirit; the natural result of that walk. 

The Christian life is not governed by a set of rules, rather, it is governed by who the Christian has become in Christ.

The law of the Spirit has set us free from the law of the sin nature and death. The Mosaic law could not set us free from the sin nature. "For what the law did not have the natural ability to do, in that it was weak because of the flesh, God send is Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, He condemned the sin nature in the flesh in order that the righteousness of the law should be fulfilled in us, the ones not walking according to the flesh but walking according to the Spirit," Romans 8:3, 4.

The Mosaic law did not have the ability to overcome the sin nature. It was God's Own Son that condemned the sin nature by coming in the likeness of sinful flesh. Now, because we are in Christ, we are free from the sin nature and can fulfill the law of righteousness.

We can fulfill the law of righteousness because of who we are in Christ. Rather than being slaves to the sin nature, In Christ we have been set free from the sin nature and are presently slaves to righteousness.

However, as Paul stated in Romans 7, the sin nature has not been annihilated. We therefore serve God with our mind, but the law of the sin nature with our flesh.

What does this mean? when we are framing our minds of the things of the Spirit, we are able to fulfill, or live out, the law of Righteousness. However, if we are framing our minds on the desires of the flesh, we will produce the works of the flesh, rather than works of righteousness.

"For those who are according to the flesh, set their reflective thinking on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, set their reflective thinking on the things of the Spirit," Romans 8:5

What you frame your mind upon greatly affects the actions you produce.

The terms "framing your mind" and "reflective thinking" are describing the same concept. How do you perceive yourself? What is your opinion of yourself? Does your opinion of who you are line up with God's opinion of who you are? The Christians life begins in the mind because, as you will see also in the remainder of this chapter, what you are thinking on, affects everything you perform.

"For the carnally framed mind is death, but the Spiritually framed mind is life and peace, because the carnally framed mind is hostile towards God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor is it able to be subject to the law of God" Romans 8:6, 7

A mind that is framed on the desires of the flesh will not be in subjection to the law of God. The law described here goes back to the law of the Spirit, which is fulfilled in us when we walk by the Spirit. When are minds are framed on the desires of the flesh, these desires do not coincide with the law of righteousness. The result is, we constantly struggle with desiring to do what is righteous, but always doing what is wrong. When our mind is framed on the desires of the flesh, we can not keep the law of God.

"So then, they that are in the flesh do not have the ability to please God," Romans 8:8.

Framing your mind on the things of the flesh leads to a life that is not pleasing to God.

"But you are in in the flesh, but in the Spirit, If the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Romans 8:9

We are not in the flesh, so we should not act like we are in the flesh. Are you saved? Did you believe the gospel for salvation? Christ died for you sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. The "if" in Romans 8:9 does not question whether you have the Spirit of God, but refers to the fact that you have the Spirit. If the Spirit of God dwells in you, then you are not in the flesh, you have been freed from the sin nature. If you are saved, then the Spirit dwells in you. "Done you know that you are the Holy of Holies of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16

Since we are not in the flesh, let us walk by the Spirit.