Useful Bible Studies > Romans Commentary > chapter 8
Sometimes Christians try to argue that, because of Christ’s death, God’s law does not matter to them. They are wrong, because God’s commands are holy, right and good (7:12). God’s people should love his law (Psalm 119:97); in fact, they should love everything that God considers to be right and good.
The reality is that God’s law is of great importance to Christians (3:31). However, we must understand it correctly (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). God’s law is not merely a set of rules for what we may do with our bodies. Rather, God has given his law for the benefit of our spirits (7:14). In other words, the law teaches us how we can have a right relationship with God in our spirits. We ourselves are too weak to live in the manner that pleases God (3:23; 8:13). We need to receive the kind of life that comes from God’s Holy Spirit (8:11), in order to obey his law.
Christ died in order to satisfy the judgement of God’s law, which was rightly against us. When we put our trust in Christ, his Holy Spirit enters our lives (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit then directs us and guides us to live in the way that pleases God (John 16:13). That way to live is not, of course, against God’s law (Galatians 5:22-23). Rather, it is how God’s law teaches people to live (Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Micah 6:8).
This is the perfect relationship between God’s people and his law that Jeremiah 31:33-34 describes (see Hebrews 8:6-12). The proper place for God’s law is deep inside his people; in their hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3). Therefore, they gladly choose to obey him. They have accepted God’s law into their hearts, and it has a permanent place there (compare Psalm 40:6-8).
Next part: What are you thinking? (Romans 8:5)
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© 2022, Keith Simons.