The Spirit Does What The Law Could Not Do

What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering. Romans 8:3

God did for us in Christ what the law could not do; give us life. It’s funny how the law of God is good, and meant to be a source of knowledge of what God is like. Yet this law only damns us because it is not able to give us the power to obey it, but only leaves us condemned in our disobedience. The law reveals to us what is good of God, but reveals what is bad in us. This is the function and the purpose of the law.

The gospel is amazing! The law is limited because of the limitations of our flesh. So God sends his son Jesus down to earth to be clothed in flesh. Jesus’ flesh was not limited in the same way our flesh is limited. Our flesh is limited because at the core, we are rebellious, fallen, and depraved. Jesus has no such limitations. He was clothed in flesh to be sure, but he was not limited by a rebellious, fallen, or depraved nature. He was and is perfect, and thus was the perfect sacrifice to condemn sin in his own flesh.

Jesus now does for us what the law could never do, give us the Holy Spirit. This is the same Spirit that dwelt in him while he was living on this planet 2000 years ago. This is the same Spirit that enabled him to obey the law of God which we were unable to do. This is why the law of God is so important in the life of the church. It shows us both our need for a Redeemer, and God’s way of life for the redeemed to live. Without the Spirit, the law only condemns; but with the Spirit, the law now sanctifies.