Loving The Law Without Being Under It

As believers in Jesus Christ, if we are not under the Law (and we're not, Rom. 6:14), then what should be our attitude toward the Law?

Is the Law sin? In other words, is it bad? No, of course not (Rom. 7:6). The Law reflects the character of our Lord. The Law is holy, and just, and good, and spiritual (Rom. 7:12,14). We should delight in the Law, as to its content (Rom. 7:22) and agree with the Law that it is good (Rom. 7:16).

The Law is a beautiful gem, reflecting the shimmering glory of the Lord we love.

So, we should love the Law. . .without being under it.

It does not have any hold over a dead man, and we died in Christ. We were crucified with Him, and a whole new Life has been given to us. And this Life fulfills the Law. And so there is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom. 8:1).

The Law is beautiful, but it's letter kills (2 Cor. 3:6), because it's so beautiful and good that it demands the very perfection of God. And those who rely on it for their standing with God will perish in their imperfections, their sins.

A higher and more beautiful "Law" has superceded the Law which kills. It's the Law of life in Christ Jesus WHICH IS BY GRACE (pardon the shouting). In Him we have Life. And in Him the Law is fulfilled, despite our outward performance. In Him we are fully accepted by God, and even the sins we have yet to commit are forgiven.

The Law is beautiful and good, but a higher and more beautiful "Law" has superceded the Law which kills. We have been freed from its killing power, and thus made free to be followers of Jesus, whom we love.

And that's what Rom. 8:2 means when it says, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."