Christ Makes Free

Christ Makes Free 
Passion for Liberty
Terry R. Baughman

“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2 NKJ).

Laws of nature are not created by humans or set in order by our discovery. Rather, the laws of nature are consistent results or relationship of elements observable in nature. When an apple fell from the tree, Sir Isaac Newton deduced that there was a law of gravity at work in nature. Whenever we drop something we know that it will fall downward because gravity is present. Many other facts of science or principles of physics have been discovered and determined to be dependable outcomes of natural occurrences. 

This is the understanding we can get from Paul’s writing in Romans concerning the law of the Spirit of life, and the law of sin and death. Paul observed that there is the law of sin and death working in each person. Left alone people will go on in sin and will degenerate in into depravity. It is, “the law of sin and death working in our members.”

Paul said, “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death” (Romans 7:5 NKJ). He spoke of the struggle we all face as we seek to subdue the flesh and experience the freedom that comes in the Spirit. He discerned that sin was at work in our bodies and the end result would lead to death. James concurred when he wrote, “When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15 NKJ). A sinful nature produces more sin. Regardless of our good intentions and new resolutions we find that we still are failing and returning to sin that we promised we would abandon. It seems that we are powerless to resist sin and overcome its fetters. 

Jesus came to set captives free! One of the greatest outcomes of His redemptive  plan was to liberate us from the bondage of sin and death. He came to fulfill the law and remove the curse of sin. He made an end of death and grants liberty in the Spirit. The law of sin is still there, but the power of redemption is greater. John said, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 NKJ). 

 One of the greatest analogies of these principles is found in the law of gravity versus the law of flight. It is still amazing how those great jumbo jets seem to defy gravity and sail up into the skies like a bird. If the power of the engines can give the plane enough thrust, and if the wings can adjust to provide upward lift, flight takes over and gravity gives up its claim. Gravity is still there. If the engines failed or the wings were damaged gravity would become greater than the law of flight and the proud bird would plummet to the earth. 

In a similar fashion the law of sin is like gravity constantly pulling us down and seeking to destroy our lives. While the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus working within us provides victory and overcoming power, if we cease walking in the Spirit and rising above sin, we will feel the power of sin and death begin to draw us downward and lead to destruction. 

Arise in flight of victory over sin and death! Claim the promises of God to every believer. Let us be filled with the Spirit and purpose to walk in the Spirit the rest of our days! Remember Christ makes us free!
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Theme passage:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18 NKJ).