(2)“For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – hath made me free from – the law of sin and death.(3)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. (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” [Ro.8:2-4]
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth – that shall he also reap! (8) For he that soweth to his flesh – shall of the flesh reap corruption – but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting!” [Gal.6:7-8]
Due to that which the Lord Jesus has accomplished on our behalf through His atoning work as our eternal Surety and Substitute – let us now meditate on what impact the Word of God declares this wonderful work of Christ will have in our walking through this fallen-in-sin world. Once again, let’s go to the Word of God to get the explanation; after all, “Scripture does interpret Scripture”.
Ro.6:4 plainly describes: “Therefore, we are buried with Him (i.e. Christ Jesus) by baptism into death – that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father – we also should walk – in newness of Life!” What is this “newness of Life” talking about? It is talking about Regeneration! It is talking about having been born from above – by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit of God – whom Jesus, the eternal Son of God incarnate prayed to God the Father for Him to send unto us. Just as Jn.14:16-17 says: “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter (viz. the Holy Spirit) that He may abide with you forever; (17) the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth Him not – neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him – for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you.” This is the personal — true and genuine spiritual quickening experience that all the elect of God will have! The Holy Spirit of God bears personal witness with the spirit of His true children that they, indeed, are in and a part, of His Holy Family! [see: Ro.8:16-17; 1Jn.3:23-24 and 4:13] The “newness of Life” that is spoken of in Ro.6:4 is the same as what the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to write about in 2Pe.1:3-4> “As His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness – through the (full-) knowledge of Him (Christ Jesus) that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) whereby (or, through whom) are given (or, have been bestowed) unto us exceeding great and precious promises – that by these ye might be partakers (or, sharers) of the Divine Nature (of Jesus Christ) having escaped the corruption (or, the spontaneous decay) that is in the world through lust.” This is the “exceeding greatness” of the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Walking in the “newness of Life” in Christ and being “partakers of the Divine Nature” of Christ is what it means in the Gal.6:7-8 text above when it describes “he that soweth to the Spirit – shall of the Spirit reap – Life Everlasting”. And, this is all actively accomplished for us — by and through the Lord Jesus Christ – because we are His “called and chosen and faithful”! [see: Rev.17:14] All of this teaching from the Word of God portrays for us the true believer’s active following of the Lord Jesus Christ – and not the Law! As Gal.2:16 says: “knowing that a man is Not justified by the works of the law – but by the Faith of Jesus Christ; even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ – and Not by the works of the law – for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Praise His Wonderful Name!
-For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
