Life in the Spiritনমুনা

Day 1: New Law, New Life

Begin

Quiet your heart and ask God to take all your worries and distractions, trusting him to teach and encourage you through his Word. Pray and ask him to open your eyes to the lessons he has for you today!

Reflect

The Bible tells us that we’re all living under one of two laws.

One is the law under which every person is born (Romans 3:23). According to this law, we consistently fall short of God’s standard of perfection. We’re enslaved to the passions and desires of our flesh. We’re unable to break free from cycles of sin. Even at our best moments, our sin ruins our righteous works in the eyes of a holy God (Isaiah 64:6). Think about the most difficult moments of your life—the times that fill you with discouragement, shame, or despair. Think about the weight you felt when you knew you had done something wrong and deserved judgment. Without Christ, death is the natural end of everyone living under the old law (Romans 6:23).

But in Romans 8, Paul points us to a second law—a new law that brings new life through the Holy Spirit.

Paul begins with a bold statement: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (verse 1). What does it mean to be “in Christ Jesus” if not, at the very least, to be baptized into his death? This, of course, sets us up to experience a new life because of his resurrection (Romans 6:3–4).

This transformation is not a casual change. Our Savior compares it to his own resurrection from the dead: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). Through the Spirit’s work, our hearts are softened and begin to desire God’s ways instead of our own (Ezekiel 36:26–27). And under the new law of the Spirit, we are set free from the punishment of sin and called to walk a different path.

This journey will not be easy. In fact, Paul is quick to remind us that we’re still trapped in a “body of death” and fighting against the sin that resides in us (Romans 7:20–25). But we can see evidence of the Holy Spirit’s influence over the course of our personal transformation. Think about your journey with the Lord. When you first began, was your heart as tender to the Spirit’s prompting as it is today? Did you value the gift of prayer as much as you do now? Did you find it more difficult to forgive? Did you hunger for God’s Word and value his wisdom above every other kind of advice?

While this life will always involve a fight with sin, we can find encouragement in this evidence of new life. And Paul reminds us that we can look forward to the future with hope as we keep in step with the Spirit.

Because of Jesus and through the work of the Spirit, we are part of God’s family. God has promised to complete the work he began in our lives (Philippians 1:6). And as we grow in faith, we anticipate the day when we will share in Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and death.

Consider

Think back to the earliest days of your Christian walk. What was your experience of the Holy Spirit like then? What differences did you notice in your life once you began to follow Christ? How has the Spirit grown you in faith since that day?

Choose one verse from today’s reading and meditate on it for several minutes now. What truth stands out to you in this verse? What does it tell you about God? Write the verse out and put it somewhere visible so that you can continue to dwell on God’s Word throughout your day.

Meditate

Spend a few moments reading and considering how this Scripture relates to the other truths you encountered today. What connections can you make?

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. —John 14:26 NIV