LAW OF THE SPIRIT
Romans 8:1-5, tells us this is a NEW LAW, 'There
is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the SPIRIT. For
the LAW of the SPIRIT of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE from the LAW of SIN and DEATH; 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: That the righteousness of the LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED in us, who walk NOT after the flesh, but
after the SPIRIT; for they that are after the flesh do MIND the things of the flesh; but they that are after the SPIRIT, the
things of the SPIRIT.'
There is an inherent evil in our human nature that does not want to obey God. Paul tells
us the only answer to overcoming it is in our CHOICE to serve Christ. He says he chooses to serve Christ and His RIGHTEOUSNESS
and finds his FAITH has liberated him and set him free from the bondage of this evil. This FAITH gives him the POWER to overcome
sin.
In Romans 4:5, ‘FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ It is considered a RIGHTEOUS act. He chooses
CHRIST and HIS WORKS over his own evil works with the MIND OF FAITH. The FRONT LINE of the Spiritual struggle to OVERCOME
"Individual" sin is in the MIND. We defeat the Devil by purposing in our MIND to obey God and then we have the ability
to RESIST EVIL tendencies. This is called FAITH in CHRIST.
In
Matthew 16:24 Jesus says, "If any man will come after Me, let him DENY himself, and TAKE up his cross and FOLLOW ME."
Romans 6:6 tells us, 'Knowing this, that our OLD MAN is CRUCIFIED with HIM, that the BODY of SIN might be destroyed,
that henceforth we should NOT serve SIN.'
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH, Galatians 3:11.
It is not OUR
righteousness that we are trying to achieve in our daily walk: It is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST in the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
Isaiah 64:6 plainly states that man's righteousness is as "filthy rags" to God. The New Living Translation says,
'We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like
autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.'
There is only ONE way to change
“Old Adam's” HEART and MIND to bring forth the RIGHTEOUSNESS (Fruit of the Spirit) that God requires; and that
is for GOD to IMPUTE (or add to the HEART) His Son’s RIGHTEOUSNESS to the BORN AGAIN.
Psalms 32:1-2 says,
'Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no guile.'
II Corinthians 5:19-21, The New Living Translation explains, 'For God was
in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself: No longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message
He has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you.
We urge you, as though Christ Himself were here
pleading with you, "Be ye reconciled to God!" For God made Christ, Who never sinned, to be the offering for our
SIN, so that we could be made RIGHT with God through Christ.' This REDEEMING POWER OF CHRIST covers FORGIVENESS of sins committed
"before" or "after" conversion for the BORN AGAIN.
CHAPTER 3-2 Proof of a Spiritual Life