“… because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)
I can recall various experiences attending courts of law as a district newspaper journalist years ago, reporting on different types of criminal and civil cases. Some of these moments have been unexpected – for example, once arriving at a crown court and seeing a witness, seemingly scared of the press, running away. Another time, I sat down quietly on the press bench to find a lawyer with a grudge against reporters suddenly appearing before me. She began shouting loudly in my face! I still don’t know why, and the two police officers sitting behind me collapsed with laughter! The most alarming incident was probably when a highly respected lawyer tried to persuade me to not write anything at all: “Sometimes my friends in the press do me a favour…” he said. It hinted at bribery but I didn’t take the bait. I wrote my report.
One thing I learnt though is the power inherent in the courts. When the judge gives his or her verdict, it carries tremendous weight and directly affects people’s lives. Here in the UK, if found guilty, the defendant faces a financial fine, certain lifestyle restrictions or imprisonment and if found not guilty, they simply leave the court – but everything depends on the law and whether a sentence is handed down.
I think we all live with a keen awareness that there are consequences if we make the wrong choices in disobedience to the governing authorities. The law, with all its various interpretations, can seem almost omnipotent.
That is why I marvelled after reading this sentence above from Romans 8 this morning. I have read this whole Romans 8 passage numerous times and it still surprises me how I learn new things. Today, the phrase, ‘the law of the Spirit who gives life’ really jumped out at me. We don’t normally associate laws with ‘life,’ linking them instead with damnation. In some countries, the law brings a death sentence and certainly not ‘life.’
But that is the sheer beauty of Christianity turning things upside down. A new, wondrous law has entered our culpable world because of Christ Jesus: forgiveness instead of condemnation and salvation relieving us of judgement. The law of the Spirit is unlike anything in this world. It actually sets us free regardless of what we have done!
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