. The Contrast of Two Laws
Romans 8:1-4 says:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law could not do because of the weakness of the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of the flesh and a sinful nature as a sacrifice, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Verse 2 contrasts the law of the Holy Spirit with the law of sin and death. So, we must ask: what does "the law of sin and death" actually refer to? It refers to the Law itself. As Scripture says, "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). It is a law written in stone that, because of our nature, results in death (2 Corinthians 3:7).
Why is God's holy Law called the law of sin and death? Paul explains in Romans 7:9-11:
“I was alive before there was no law. When the commandment comes, sin comes alive, and I am dead. So the commandment that should lead me to life actually leads me to death. For sin, taking advantage of the commandment, deceived me and killed me with that commandment.”
Clearly, the Law came from God; it is holy, righteous, spiritual, and good (Romans 7:12, 14, 16). Yet, it became a law of sin and death for us. How is this possible?
II. The Metaphor of the Demanding Husband
To understand this, imagine a woman who says, "Before I married 'Mr. Law', I felt alive." But after living with Mr. Law, she finds that sin has revived and she has spiritually died. This seems strange because Mr. Law is a "perfect" husband—he is always holy, good, righteous, and blameless.
Initially, they are happy, but as the honeymoon ends and daily life begins, things change. Before Mr. Law leaves for work, he gives his wife a rigid "to-do" list:
Quiet Time and prayer.
Repentance, praise, and calling church members.
Helping those in need, cleaning the house, and laundry.
Paying bills and preparing food.
Strict limits: "If you watch a soap opera, only 30 minutes; if you chat, only 30 minutes."
Every item on his list is good, righteous, and holy. However, when he returns from work, he doesn't greet his wife with a hug or affection. Instead, he immediately demands the list to check her progress. He is an expert at finding every single task she missed or failed to complete. This scrutiny continues day after day.
On the rare days she manages to follow the checklist, he smiles and treats her with affection. But on the days she fails, he scolds and condemns her. Under this "Law," her relationship with her husband fluctuates entirely based on her performance. Even though she does her best to please him, Mr. Law is never truly satisfied because his standards are perfection.
Consequently, the marriage becomes an unbearable burden. The wife becomes exhausted, depressed, and filled with guilt. She falls into a state of helplessness, realizing that "the commandment which was meant to bring life actually brought death" (Romans 7:10).
III. The Curse of the Law
This is why the Bible states in Galatians 3:10: “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them.’”
Furthermore, James 2:10 reminds us: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
No matter how well you perform, you can never fully satisfy the law’s requirements or avoid its condemnation on your own.
IV. Freedom Through a New Marriage
If those under the Law are always condemned, how are those in Christ different? Romans 8:1-2 declares there is now no condemnation because the Law of the Spirit has set us free from the law of sin and death.
How are we set free? The Law itself never dies; it is eternal. Therefore, we can only be set free from the jurisdiction of the Law if we die. Romans 7:4 (NLT) explains:
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.”
Because you died with Christ, you have been freed from your "old husband," the Law. You have been raised and united with a New Husband: Jesus Christ. While Christ knows your sins perfectly, He does not condemn you. Instead, out of love, He took the curse you deserved for failing to keep the Law. As Galatians 3:13 says:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.”
The daily condemnation and the ultimate death sentence were taken by Jesus in our place. This is the core message of Christianity—a precious truth that our forefathers risked their lives to protect and the most important message for future generations.
V. Living Under Grace, Not the Law
Those in Christ are no longer under the Law but under Grace (Romans 6:14). We are now "married" to Grace. The Christian life is not a struggle to satisfy a law that points out our flaws; it is a life of sharing gratitude and love with the One who gave His body to be cursed in our place, and who always forgives and accepts us.
However, the biggest obstacle to this loving relationship with Jesus is that we often keep thinking about our "ex-husband," Mr. Law. We suspect that even though Jesus seems gracious now, He will eventually grow to hate and condemn us once He sees our shortcomings. This happens because we confuse the Lord of Grace with Mr. Law.
Many Christians live in self-condemnation and darkness, believing God despises them. They have confused Christ with Mr. Law. While repentance is still necessary, true repentance must be based on trust in the Lord's love, not doubt of it.
If you doubt whether Christ can accept or forgive you, it is because you are looking at Him through the lens of the law of sin and death. Even though you have accepted Jesus, you aren't enjoying the privileges of being His spouse; you are receiving God's grace in vain.
VI. Standing Firm in Freedom
We must continually proclaim that we are dead to the Law and alive to Christ. We should live in the joy of the freedom Jesus paid a high price to provide. Paul urges us in Galatians 5:1:
“For Christ has set us free; therefore stand firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.”
"There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ." I pray that we treasure this message, rejoice in it, and bear witness to it for generations to come.
VII. Fulfilling the Law Through Love
Finally, look at Romans 8:4: “...so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Now that we are in Christ, the law of sin and death no longer applies to us. Therefore, we are free from all the condemnation that comes from the Law, and we live with gratitude and joy. However, being freed from the Law does not mean that we are now free to live however we want, according to our own desires. We are people who have been united with Christ in marriage. Then how can we truly experience and live in freedom from Mr. Law?
Galatians 5:18 says, “If you are led by the Holy Spirit, you are not under the law.” To live a life that is completely liberated from the law of sin and death, we must walk according to the law of the Spirit who gives life.
Jesus died and sent the Holy Spirit so that as we follow the Spirit's guidance, we actually begin to fulfill the requirements of the Law. What does it look like to fulfill the Law's requirements?
Romans 13:8-10 tells us: “Whoever loves another has fulfilled the law... Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
And Galatians 5:13-14 adds: “Do not use freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the law is fulfilled in one word: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
We are not free to sin; we are free from condemnation so that we can finally practice true love. Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law through His life. To fulfill the Law today means to imitate Christ by practicing love for our neighbors.
I pray in the name of Jesus that we may become more like Him, receiving the guidance of the Holy Spirit every moment of every day.
