Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 12:03:06 PM
That which was kept under guard by the law in the Old Covenant unfolds in the coming of Christ into great New Covenant liberty…
‘What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made…Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law…But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor’ [Galatians 3:19-25].
Now the Christian can begin to understand the surpassing greatness of the liberty where in Christ has made us free. The regenerating power of the Spirit opens the heart and applies the redemption accomplished at the cross. Grace has set us free. Because we are raised up with Christ, sin is on longer our master that we must obey. Its power over us is broken as is the power of the grave…
‘If you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of NO VALUE AGAINST THE INDULGENCE OF THE FLESH’ [Colossians 2:20-23].
Because sin originates in the heart, a renewed heart is free and no longer a slave to the corrupting power of sin. We who were dead in sin are now dead to sin. Those things that God has given for our enjoyment can be freely enjoyed because righteousness is of the heart, not in outward appearances.