Free from the Law?
By Mike Rule
Being set free from the burden of law is a thrilling concept to us as
believers, but I have found it interesting that many people who know
"Christ as life" cannot talk about law without feeling condemnation
and death. Avoidance of the law is NOT true freedom! If I cannot talk about
God's commands or look at them without feeling condemned, I am not free. I am
just as much in bondage to the law as ever. I may not be striving to live to it,
and I am no longer bound by legalism, but I am still in bondage because all I
smell is death and condemnation whenever I look at or hear about the law.
What is freedom from the burden of law? It is the freedom to look at the
perfect law of God and see Life. We can see our shortcomings in comparison to
Him while fully recognizing that there is NO condemnation in the law for us
because of Christ. In fact, the law is now a promise from God to me. It reflects
the image of His Son's Life that dwells in me. Through it, I see where I am in
the process of having my life conformed into the image and likeness of His Son.
Law continually reveals that apart from Him I cannot do anything. Is seeing my
need for Christ a burden?
Pure love and simple devotion to Christ always results in a life that more
and more reflects the very image of the person of Jesus Christ, who is the Word
of God made flesh. Of course it's probably not going to happen all at once, and
there may be times that a life seems to contradict a few things, but the overall
characterization of a life devoted to Him flows with His love and His life.
"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the
contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31 NKJV)
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully
upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your
ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your
conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
1Peter1:13-16
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