1Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
As I was meditating before getting out of bed this morning, listening to the still small voice inside, I was once again made aware of what a major role the law is still playing in my life. I was asking God to show me why it is still so difficult for me to accept the abundant life Jesus came to reveal to us—not a life that we must attain to, but one that is already there for recognition and acceptance, the life that Jesus called the kingdom of heaven that is within everyone.
I realized that no matter how good life is, I always manage to manifest some picture of evil to interfere with the continued acceptance of the good that I’m experiencing. In other words, my carnal mindedness (Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.) or sin
(believing that I am separated from God and must do or not do something to earn His acceptance) begins operating again even though I really do know the truth which should be setting me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.).
I find that in the deepest part of me there is still the belief that my experiencing the kingdom of heaven is somehow dependent upon my performance. There is within me still the inability to accept God’s goodness as a free gift. Yes, the strength of sin is the law.
It is indeed, as Paul told us, the ministration of death
(2Corinthians 3:7) or carnal mindedness (Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.). To the extent that we are under the law,
to that extent we cannot experience the grace of God. When I feel guilty about my performance in any area of my life, I CANNOT receive the good offered to me by my Father; my conscience must be purged from dead works
if I am to walk in right relationship with my Father (Hebrews 9:14), a relationship that is right
or righteous
because I have accepted that righteousness
as a free gift and have stopped attempting to earn it through right
performance—by performing the works of the law.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
We can see from the above Scripture that the law is NEVER satisfied. The more I do, the more I see I haven’t done; or the more I refrain from doing, the more I find myself doing what I shouldn’t—until I cry out with Paul:
Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
and
(v 24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Like Paul, I have to REALLY know that
Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Yes, it is not by might, nor by power [the works of the law], but by my spirit
(Zechariah 4:6) that I am able to accept and walk in the all that I have is yours
(Luke 15:31) which my Father has freely given to me and to all who can believe it to be so. I cease attempting to do
anything in order to make
any of my desires come into manifestation. I have to accept the truth that my prayers are already answered even before I ask (Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.) and will come into manifestation only when I cease taking thought
(Matthew 6:25) and looking for a sign
(Luke 11:29) or proof
that God has heard me; I just believe that I receive when I pray, knowing that I shall have what I desire:
Mark 11:23-24 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
I cannot believe that I receive what I cannot yet see with my thought-taking mind. I must be operating from the mind of Christ
(1Corinthians 2:16) which Paul tells us we must let
be in us (Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:). In other words, it is already in us (we have the mind of Christ
—1Corinthians 2:16), but we must recognize that it is there and allow it to operate. It is the mind which can say, as Jesus said Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
(John 11:41-42). It is the mind of the one who shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass.
Yes, indeed, the strength of sin is the law.
BUT we can know and live in the truth that
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.