The relationship between the law and the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:1-8; 3/9/2025; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

It can be said that the distinction between the law and the Holy Spirit started the New and Old Testament eras.  But what is the connection between the law and the Holy Spirit?   This is the focus of our thinking today and the origin of the topic of today’s sermon.  Let’s look at the first point: 

The Holy Spirit transcends the law

The Holy Spirit transcends the law.  It seems like an attempt, but it also brings profound meaning.  First, the meaning of being in Christ.  What does it mean to be in Christ?  Frankly speaking, the meaning of being in Christ is not something we can fully understand, because the richness of Christ is far beyond the reach of our human abilities.  But through the revelation of the Bible, we can know what God wants us to understand.  In today’s scripture, Paul tells us: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  (Romans 8:1)”  If we just look at this verse, it seems to be nothing, it seems to be sparse and ordinary.  However, if we combine the context, we will find its earth-shattering significance.  We find that the law in our flesh that causes us to sin always outweighs the law in our heart, remember?  The point is, from now on, God no longer condemns us!

Second, freedom in Christ.  That is to say, no matter how much we fail or how many times we fall in the battle against the law in our own hearts, in the end God will no longer condemn us!  This is the power of the gospel, which will save everyone who believes!  The law cannot do this.  Only the law of the Spirit of life can free us from the law of sin and death!  Nor is it how well we did in our struggles, how touching our testimonies were, how compelling our conduct was.  It is because we belong to Christ  and are in Christ, God has released us in Christ Jesus!

Finally, Christ became the sin offering.  Some people may ask, why is this happening?  In fact, the Bible explains it very clearly, but we may not pay much attention to it.  The law in our hearts battles against the sinful law in our bodies and often fails.  So Paul said: “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,  (Romans 8:3)” God knew that we were powerless, so He made the powerful Christ Jesus become flesh, sacrifice his life on the cross, resurrect and ascend to heaven, and became the propitiation sacrifice for us.  In this way, God will no longer condemn us!  From then on, the Holy Spirit leads us to walk on the road to heaven, surpass the law, and enable us to overcome by relying on the Lord!  Look at the second point:

Life battle situation

The reason why the gospel is powerful is that God’s salvation can save us from darkness and into the wonderful light of eternal life with God!  First, follow the law or the Spirit.  Originally, I relied on myself and the law and struggled desperately, but the result was just as Paul said: “I am so miserable!”  Now relying on the Holy Spirit, God will “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)” From then on, it is no longer us who fight, but the Holy Spirit fights for us.  We only do one thing, that is, do nothing, but give all the sovereignty of our lives to the Holy Spirit!  We can pray, ask, and give thanks in everything, pour out our hearts to God, trust Him, and not worry or be afraid!  In essence, people should give their authority to the Lord, and should not grasp, control the situation, or control people, as if only what you do can show your value. 

Next, to set the mind on the flesh or the Spirit.  What is carnality?  It is our flesh, our old self, our habits, and our self-righteousness.  In particular, some things that are conventional, taken for granted, on the moral high ground, and difficult to change in character constitute physical lust.  The lust of the flesh will surely breed the pride of life,  It is the inertial blood flow of believing that one must be right, which is enough to make people lose control and even act forcefully and randomly.  At this time, our five senses, cognition, and learning abilities will inevitably decline, because the lust of the eyes will also participate, destroying our spiritual sensitivity, and losing contact with God.  Unless we repent quickly, catch up with God’s steps, to set the mind of the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, and let the Holy Spirit take control.

Lastly, the choice of life, death and peace.  To set the mind on the flesh makes people feel comfortable and relaxed, just like the first ancestor saw that the fruit was pleasing to the eyes and good for food.  So what happened?  She ate it, and as soon as she ate it, she realized that it felt so good and happy!  However, the consequence is death!  This kind of setting the mind on the flesh for doing whatever you want can be seen everywhere today!  Eve might also have argued that: You, the Lord God, told us not to eat the fruit from the tree in the garden, but You did not tell us not to eat the fruit that was handed to me by a talking snake!  You, Lord God, have not made it clear and explained the rules clearly.  How can you blame us?  The human heart is deceitful above all things, except that the heart is unwilling to choose to set the mind on the Holy Spirit.  Let’s look at the third point:

Receiving life from setting the mind on the Spirit

Why is it important to set your mind on the Holy Spirit?  When a person died, he didn’t know how he died!  Paul specifically mentioned it and asked us to be alert to this.   First, enmity against God.  Maybe when people are enemies of God, maybe they themselves are even confused, right?  Scripture shows that enmity with God is the consequence or equivalent of a carnal mind.  For example, antichrists, false Christs, governments, groups, individuals and other forces that persecute the church and arrest God’s children throughout the ages are all races that are enemies of God.  The point is, the Bible says their end is death!  Death is the devouring of the meaning of life and the demise of the value of life.  After all, they are pitiful, pathetic, and hateful people in the eternal value system!  But Christ said on the cross:  Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing!  At the end of King Saul, the Holy Spirit left him!  Pitiful!

Secondly, unwillingness to submit.  The core nature of sinners is disobedience.  This was true for Adam, so for Cain, so for the Tower of Babel, so for Sodom, so for Nineveh, so for Pharaoh, and even more so for the Israelites who came out of Egypt!   All right! You say that God has not given you written laws and regulations, so I will take you to Mount Sinai and carve the Ten Commandments with my own hands.   Is it time to return to the land of Canaan?  No, you still refuse to obey!  Along the way, you continued to worship idols, stir up trouble in the church, and refused to obey the leadership of Moses!  In the end, Moses also struck the rock with flesh and water came out, so that the companion coach could not enter Canaan, but entered Mount Nebo, and died alone.  Do you still not understand the message God put in the Bible?

Finally, God was displeased.  At this time, Paul had to look at the problem from the perspective of a person’s subordinate nature.  Please tell me, who do you belong to?  People who belong to God will choose to follow the Holy Spirit, be considerate of the Holy Spirit, and please God!  However, if you are a person who goes by flesh, you will not choose to obey in your heart.  Instead, you will find faults in every possible way, make things difficult for the church, embarrass yourself, and become an enemy to God!   Why?  For a moment of pleasure?  Eating a bite of fruit that does not please God, killing Abel who does not please yourself, building a Tower of Babel that reaches the sky, raising up a question that you think is very satisfying, etc.  However, you will only fail to please God.  Let me ask, is this the goal in your life?

Conclusion

Well, thank the Lord!  The relationship between the law and the Holy Spirit gives us a glimpse into the mystery of the Holy Spirit and the law so that we can understand that the purpose of life is to please God!

Let us pray ……

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God。