DEAD TO THE LAW

"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7:1-4).

Devotion 8 of 17

ALL IS NOT HOPELESS

From the human point of view, we are cast upon the horns of a dilemma. The great God of heaven yearns for His creation, not willing that any of them should perish (2 Pet 3:9). Yet, His holy nature will not allow Him to "acquit the wicked" (Nah 1:3), or "clear the guilty," leaving them unpunished (Ex 34:7). Divine mercy earnestly desired to draw humanity into its bosom. Yet, truth forbade it, because the disparity between God and man was too great. If the Lord received man in a state of sin, the truth of His holiness and purity would be compromised to the consternation of the hosts of heaven. The heart of God longed to be at peace with the sons of men, but His righteousness would not allow it to take place. Thus, mankind appeared to be doomed to a state of utter helplessness. Indeed men were described as "having no hope, and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12).

Although the situation appears hopeless, it is not! God undertakes to bring salvation by His own mighty arm. Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would resolve the dilemma Himself. "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me" (Isa 63:5). The Gospel is the announcement, or proclamation, of that glorious resolution.

God accomplished this salvation through the Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Rom 8:3, KJV). Sin itself was effectively condemned "in Christ," i.e., in His flesh. Peter refers to this accomplishment when he writes, "He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed" (1 Pet 2:24, NIV).

Herein is a most marvelous display of Divine wisdom. The Lord took the iniquities of all humanity, and placed them upon His only begotten Son. As it is written, "the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa 53:6). Taking the matter further, the Apostle Paul revealed the extent of this Divine activity. It is something that could never have been conceived by any created intelligence. "For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (Jesus)--2 Cor 5:21). When Jesus was born, He was "God manifested in the flesh" (1 Tim 3:16). When He died, He was sin incarnate: God "made Him to be sin."

Thus God did what the law--His own Law--"could not do." The law was not weak because of any flaw in it. The Law itself was not deficient, but was good, holy, and just (Rom 7:12). It was weak because of those to whom it was addressed. The flesh simply could not carry out its demands.

Mercy and Truth Come Together!

Now, since the exaltation of Jesus, mercy and truth can embrace over humanity, and righteousness and peace can be reconciled in the salvation of mankind. As the word of the Lord poignantly declares, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psa 85:10). Because of Christ's vicarious (substitutionary) death, all of God's Divine atttibutes join to bring us salvation. Not one single characteristic of God is compromised, providing full salvation for those who receive the Son.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I praise You through Jesus for Your inscrutable wisdom that has been revealed in the great salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

-- Tomorrow: GOD REMAINS JUST, WHILE BECOMING THE JUSTIFIER --