Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The Apostle Paul is sounding the warning of the deceitfulness of sin. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ is able to break the stranglehold of sin in a person’s life. When he repents of his sins and come to Jesus Christ, he finds forgiveness and cleansing. Thereafter, he is being given the power to reject the enticement of sin to live a holy life. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
The Apostle Paul discovered at a turning point in his spiritual journey that the commandments of God showed to him his inadequacy, his inability to meet the demands of the law. It slays him. Whereas in the past, by a superficial obedience, he thought he had met the requirements of the law but was stunned when he came to the realization that the commandment was meant to rebuke him of his sin. He drove him to receive Christ.
The Apostle Paul before his conversion did not truly understand the significance of the moral law. He thought he could keep the law and be saved by it. He was mistaken. After his conversion, he realized the law was given so that the sinful nature of man is aroused causing him to sin. The law, properly applied, was meant to expose one’s sinfulness. This would cause the person to realize his inability to be saved through keeping the law and come to Christ.
Man in the fallen state is unable to keep the commandments perfectly. In fact, the commandments rebuked him. It shows him how incapable he is to keep it when he makes a truthful assessment by God’s standard. Jesus did not introduce the Law to show the young man how to be saved but to show him that he needed to be saved. The Law is like a mirror that reveals who we are (James 1:22), sinners through and through before we are saved.
Truly, we see that one idol cherished in the heart may ruin a soul forever.
Jesus showed this young man his besetting sin and with his weak point exposed, he was vulnerable. He could not stand the test. Truly, Paul said rightly, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Bible reminds us of Judas Iscariot, Ananias and Sapphira who were judged by God because of the sin covetousness.
Having been freed from the condemnation of the law, from the bondage of sin, obeying the law is not out of servile fear but filial love. Life is lived with gladness in service to God through the help of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 100 depict well this life with God that enables the Christian to live in every area of life in worship to God.
By the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the believer’s life, he brings forth spiritual fruit in his life. To serve in newness of spirit is to yield to ourselves to the mind of Christ through the diligent study of the Scripture through prayer. And it is my prayer that this begins in every Christian home. Piety begins in the home under the charge of every Christian parent.
When we come to accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour, He has by the finished work on the cross set us free from the bondage of sin. In the sight of God, we are free men. Sin no longer binds us. We have the power to say “no” to sin and bear spiritual fruit in our lives. This, the Christian, shall see in his life, as he abides in Christ. Amen.
The outworking of the commandments in the believer’s is described in his love for God and for his neighbour. There is reward forthcoming from Christ when He returns to reward His servants.
The Apostle Paul illustrates the new relationship the born-again believer has with Christ to be like the termination of a marriage covenant at the death of the spouse where the surviving spouse is discharged from the marriage contract. This freedom is likened to the freedom from the condemnation of God’s law. He is “dead to the law by the body of Christ” in that Christ bore his sins when He was crucified on the cross. Christ’s death freed the believer, discharged him, from the judgment by the law for his sins.