A PERVASIVE THEME in Paul’s letters regards that of mankind’s two natures. In respect to this aspect, it is helpful to remember two things about Paul: The first is that he was schooled as a rabbi, by a rabbi; the second is that he received the Holy Spirit as a direct act upon him by the Spirit of the ascended Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul was not schooled by just any rabbi, but by Gamaliel, the revered premiere rabbi of that time, “Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.” (Acts 22:3) Think of this in a comparison between the local city college and Harvard’s quality of education. Jewish history records Gamaliel as the leading scholar of the Sanhedrin, the tribunal Council of Seventy. He was expert in the interpretation of the Torah, or ‘Law.’ As Paul is writing “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires” (Rom. 8:5), he is clearly thinking in the context of the law and its effects on human moral and ethical behavior in the light of such verses from Torah as, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Prov. 14:12)
But the excessive zeal of his former life has now been tempered by his encounter with Jesus. “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 1:13-14) He now understands the covenant of grace deeply. It is at this point that he and James, often seen as being opposed in the tension between faith and works, actually meet and agree. And in this matter, James expresses the core of Paul’s thoughts better than Paul himself: “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (Jam. 2:12-13)
Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road (cf. Acts 9:3-19) radically changed his former worldview, just as your encounter and mine with Jesus has changed ours. And that change is no mere intellectual transformation, but instead is a complete remaking of identity. In being born again (cf. John 3:5-7), he has adopted a new worldview, but the former worldview remains as an ofttimes valuable point of reference for comparison. But the former way of believing, Paul fully understands, is also a hindrance, something to be overcome. That is the core of his teaching in chapters five through seven of Romans, with chapter seven being a crisis point—indeed, a necessary point of despair—before finding the victory of chapter eight: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:1-2)
Paul, due to his encounter with Jesus, has gained an objectivity that rewrites his personal truth claims, from which he then writes out his new interpretation of the law. His former way of thinking and his new way of thinking have become clear to him. “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” (Rom. 8:6-7) This is his personal testimony, expressed in rational and logical terms. He uses his testimony, as all witnessing should be used, to point to Christ, and to a call to action. And his words stand across two millennia, as valuable to today’s believers now as they were to those of that time. First, he says as a shared way of encouragement, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” (Rom. 8:9, 11) Subsequently, he challenges, not as one lecturing, but as one walking alongside, “We have an obligation—if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Rom. 8:12-13)
Father, may we hear clearly, deep in the gift of our new nature, these words: “There is now no condemnation. The law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:1-2) May we, in this same way, believe and take into ourselves the promise of Jesus’ words: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Q. Am I being progressively freed from the power of sin and death?
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