Sunday 11:14:10

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you. (Colossians 1:6) Romans 8:1-4 v. 1 Those of us who are in Christ are no longer under any condemnation. v. 2 The power of the Spirit overcame the power of sin and death over me, through Christ Jesus. v. 3 God condemned sin completely and finally through the suffering and death of Jesus for everyone who comes to him. v. 4 What does Paul mean that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us? Christ fulfilled the law for us when he obeyed the law perfectly and died as the perfect sacrifice on our behalf. In him, we are perfect with his perfection and in him we are pardoned in his blood. Romans 5:19 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. But that is not the point of verse 4. It does not say that the law is to be fulfilled for us. Then Paul focuses specifically on our walking, that is our living, as the way the fulfillment will happen. The requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk (a metaphor for live) according to the Spirit. How do we fulfill the requirement of the law? How can my “walking” by the Spirit – which is always imperfect in this life – be said to fulfill God’s law, which is holy, just, and good. In this case, the context speaks a lot about following the spirit and not the flesh. That is, in following the spirit, we fulfill the law. In this case, we have to look at other passages to tell how following the spirit fulfills the law in us. 1. Fulfilling the requirement of the law refers to a life of real love for God and people. Matthew 23:37-40 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Romans 13:8-10 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Galatians 5:13-14 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 2. The love that fulfills the law is accomplished by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit (not by our own strength). God calls us to a love of him that affects our heart, soul, mind and strength – every part of our being. God calls us to a love of others that puts them ahead of us. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. It is a love that forgives all offenses. Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. This is not a half-hearted love that people typically have. This is a love that requires the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16-17 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:22 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. My loving others is not a perfect love in this life. Romans 7:15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 3. In this life, I will always be a forgiven sinner. I will always need the righteousness of Christ to cover my sin. So, Christ will be glorified in my salvation. I will always depend on his Spirit to love like He loves. How do we fulfill the requirement of the law? How can my “walking” by the Spirit be said to fulfill God’s law? I look to Christ to cover my sin. He gives me the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit, who works to bring growth and His fruit in my life. 4. Even though it’s imperfect, this Christ-exalting, Spirit-dependent love is the direction of life that the law required. In this life we have new direction, not perfection. This direction is what the law demands. 5. This is the power of the Gospel, that you and I, even though we’re imperfect, can show a love that meets the requirement of God’s perfect law. It happens by the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit.