There is a lot of talk about being free from the Law. Unfortunately, what many people think the meaning of that phrase is that they can now act however they please. Romans 7:4 absolutely annihilates that line of reasoning. True, we are dead to the Law through the death of Jesus Christ, but not in the way that some would have us think. The Law no longer has power over us to condemn us because Christ fulfilled the Law perfectly on our behalf. Notice, though, the purpose of the death of Christ in this verse--"so that [we] may belong to another." The point is not that we are free to whatever we please, but that we now have a new master--Jesus Christ. No longer are we bound to the old master (the Law) that would condemn us, but we now are bound to a new Master who has redeemed us with His blood so that we would in turn "bear fruit for God." This is the end of our salvation--that by the power of our new Master, we would be fruit-bearers for the God who loved us enough to send His Son to die for us!
Right on the heels of that, Paul launches into the inner struggle that each of us has as we seek to bear fruit in the power of our new Master (vs15-25). How true this is of our current condition. We have been given a new nature at salvation, yet that new nature still exists in a fleshly body. Our new nature gives us new desires, yet our old fleshly body so often gets in the way. This is why sometimes we do the things that we don't really want to do and we don't do the things that we really do want to do. There is a constant struggle in the Christian life to live out these new desires while still clothed in the flesh. But thanks be to God who gives us grace and strength to live new lives in the power of the cross of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 8 is just jam-packed with wonderful truths. I would like to point out some powerful verses and just make some brief comments about them:
8:1 - When we are "in Christ" there is no longer any condemnation for us because Jesus Christ took our condemnation in our place - Praise the Savior!
8:17 - Since we are the "children of God" that makes us heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ! We get what He deserves because we now are His brothers and part of His body!
8:18 - We all suffer. Sometimes we even suffer because we are doing the right thing, but all of this suffering pales in comparison to the glory that God is working in us through the suffering.
8:28 - What a comforting verse this is particularly during those difficult times! God always has our best good in mind in ordering the events of our lives. Let us trust Him! He knows what He is doing!
8:29-30 - This "Golden Chain" of salvation demonstrates that salvation truly is all of God from the beginning to the end. Therefore, we can be confident and assured that what God has begun, He will complete!
8:31-32 - God is "for us." What an amazing thought! Consider the fact that at one time we were alienated from Him. We were His enemies! But now, in Christ Jesus, He is "for us." And since He was "for us" in giving His Son to save us, He will continue to be "for us" in giving us everything that we need for life and godliness!
8:35-39 - I don't know if there is a more precious passage than this in the entire Bible! God loves me and nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus! His love is a persistent, triumphant love.
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