LED BY THE SPIRIT

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17)

Devotion 16 of 20

HOW CAN WE BE DELIVERED FORM THE LAW?

How can we be delivered from the law principle--being under obligation to obtain spiritual life by our own doing? Christ is "the end of the law for righteousness" (Rom 10:4, KJV, NASB). As a means to righteousness, the Law has been obviated by the death of Christ. However, Jesus did not destroy the Law. It still remains in tact, and fully applicable to the lawless. As it is written, "realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted" (1 Tim 1:9-11, NIV).

The revealed purpose of the law gives no hint of obsolescence outside of Christ. "Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom 3:19-20). "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (Gal 3:24-25). Both of those ministries are indispensable, and remain in tact.

Those "under the law" attempt to establish their own righteousness. Their
forbearers are the Israelites, who also pursued that course. As it is written, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Rom 10:3). This is a tragic circumstance, and is to be zealously avoided at all expense.

The joyous message

But now comes the joyous message, "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Gal 5:18). Those who are "not under the Law" are not under "condemnation." They are not under "the curse." They have been freed from the "law of sin and death," and are at liberty to come boldly into the presence of God. How wonderful the proclamation, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1).

Enslaved to the Law principle, man comes under the curse of God. "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Gal 3:10). But those who are "led by the Spirit" are no longer "under the curse." They are not laboring to establish their own righteousness, but have appropriated the righteousness of God by faith (Rom 1:17).

This declaration emphasizes the kind of leading performed by the Spirit. He leads us to Christ; to the cross; to justification by faith! He brings us to the Divine remedy for our situation. Here is the expression of a man led by the Spirit. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (Phil 3:8-11).

The people "led by the Spirit" will be uprooted from the world order. They will become strangers and a pilgrims in the earth (1 Pet 2:11; Heb 13:14). They will also cease from all efforts to gain God's approval by measuring up to a Law standard. Casting themselves upon the mercy of God, they will believe the report that they have been reconciled to God through the death of His Son. The Spirit leads sensitive souls to this posture, and what a place of blessing it is!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, I thank and praise You for delivering me from the condemnation of the Law, and for writing the Law upon my heart. Now that I have been justified by faith, I find the Law is no longer offensive to me.

-- TOMORROW: A RIGHTEOUS MAN'S CRY --