But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Summary: Digging into Paul’s words is like unearthing buried treasure. In this simple passage, we find keys to better understanding the law and our life in the Spirit.
What does it mean to be “under the law”?
The answer to that question is simple. The law defines right and wrong. If a person does what is right, their actions are their own reward. If they do what is wrong under the law, then they are subject to judgment and punishment under the law. It is that simple.
Paul puts it this way:
“All … who sin under the law will be judged by the law.” (Romans 2:12)
Why is a person “led by the Spirit” not under the law?
Paul answered this question when he wrote:
“He (Christ) redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:14)
And:
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)
When we turn back to God, Jesus redeems us and gives us the promised Holy Spirit, and because we are clothed in Christ, we become “children of God through faith.”
As Jesus explains to Peter in Matthew 17: 24-27, “the children (of the king) are exempt.” The law still defines right and wrong (Matthew 5:19), but the children of the king are not under the authority of the law. Instead, God treats us as his children and disciplines us accordingly (Hebrews 12:7-11).
So what does all this mean?
People who are under the law have their eyes on the law. If the law represents a line we are not supposed to cross, we want to know how close we can get without going over. The next step is to test the law. What happens if I put one toe over the line? How about my whole foot?
That is how the law works.
People who are free from the law no longer worry about the line. Instead, we are focused on the one who wrote the law and freed us from it. We look to Jesus, and Jesus, of course, points us to the Father. Amazingly, when we look to Jesus, we see the Father (John 10:30 — “I and the Father are one”).
When we look to our Father and listen to his Spirit, we are free from the law. The law is still there and it still defines right and wrong, but we no longer are defined by the law. We are defined by love.
Application: Keep our eyes upon Jesus …
Food for Thought: How would you describe a life led by the Spirit?
How would you describe a life led by the Spirit?
The moment a believer place’s their faith in Jesus, they receive the Holy Spirit who permanently indwells believers, and will never leave us. Jesus referrs to the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Friend.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26
Few recognize the Holy Spirit immediately. Yes we may at first have an overwhelming euphoric feeling, see the sun shining every day and feel like we are walking on air, but connecting our new life from God to the Holy Spirit can take time.
In time we seek a closer relationship with God and a separation from the concerns of this world, we look at others and seek to know who they are, not what they have. Each day we simply prepare our bodies for the conditions rather than spend time grumbling when it is not what we had wanted. We receive people as an opportunity to share life, rather than an annoyance and truly listen as they open themselves, not knowing why they are telling you their inner thoughts. It’s a life being alert to where we can help rather than be helped.
The Holy Spirit reveals the Sovereignty of God to each of us. We live knowing He is in FULL control of every event in our lives and He only allows those events that will shape and mature each of us into the instrument he has intended for us before the foundation of this world. The Holy Spirit is the strength that with joy, we daily serve God as we achieve and endure, everything He has ordained in our lives for His glory.
Thank you, Ron!
Beautifully said! I’m grateful that you describe what the relationship is like over time. It grows on us! 🙂
Yes He becomes closer each day brother. We are so blessed to be left here to share what we have been given for a short while.
Ron
Isaiah 55:8-9
English Standard Version
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Well, Im not sure what happened there. I typed up more than that but it didn’t post.
Technology is not always our friend!
🙂
I liked the devotion today and Ron’s response really hit home for me.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
I find comfort in believing that Almighty God is present in my life and that when He asks something from me, and I obey, ultimately it will come to good. Not good by man’s standards, but by His perfect Will. In the Spirit, things that I think I am entitled to, He says I am not. The Spirit asks me “what does love require?” Not so I act out of compulsion or condemnation, but so that I can feely give as I have been freely given. In the Spirit, things that I think are forbidden are not. Let me clarify, I’m not talking about committing sin. In the Spirit, He has helped me separate the chaff from the wheat with my hopes, dreams, and ambitions, and allowed me to understand myself and actively become the person he created me to be.
As Ron said, it takes time, it takes trials. We have to learn to recognize the Holy Spirits voice. When we recognize it, we have to trust it. Also, the more we trust it, the more we recognize it. Is that paradoxical? Doesn’t seem to be to me, seems to be more incremental. When we put aside what we want, and obey in faith, we are given more in measure as we grow.
I find there are times of one on one alone time in prayer, and “mobile” prayer while in the day. I think both are in the Spirit. I like that living in the Spirit means He will not leave us as long as we don’t leave Him.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Thank you, Chris!
Well said! I like your comment about the Spirit’s work in our lives, “Not good by man’s standards, but by His perfect Will.” That perfectly describes what happens when we live by the Spirit instead of trying to measure everything by the law.
How would you describe a life led by the Spirit?
Like a child?
Matthew 18:2
Some say that Jesus chose children because they are humble, teachable, and not prone to pride or hypocrisy. They also say that children are innocent, forgiving, and don’t hold grudges, and that being like them can help people love God and others. Others say that having faith like a child means putting aside one’s will so that opinions and misconceptions don’t get in the way of trusting Christ
Thank you, Tim.
Yes, that is exactly right! Like a child. In addition to everything you mention, a child recognizes the physical differences between child and parent. We need to recognize that God is God, and then things start to fall into place.