For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Rm8:15-16 We are born under the law. We are born with a spirit of bondage. We are born subject to fear. The law is a great burden. It is a weight on the soul. It is a weight on the body. When we sin, it brings with it judgment, sickness, and ultimately death. It brings with it fear of punishment. It brings with it condemnation when we do the wrong thing. It brings with it stress. It brings with it low self esteem if we fail or pride if we succeed. We use it to judge ourselves and other people. We either elevate or demean. Sin is a respecter of persons. We need to be made free from the law. We need the Holy Spirit and we need the Father. Christ came to free us from bondage. He came to free us from the burden. He came to free us from condemnation or pride. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn8:32)
Life without law is stress free. Life without law is burden
free. Life without law is pure joy if we are led of the Spirit.
We can accomplish so much more in the Spirit than we can by sheer will
power. There is no weight. There is no burden.
There is no struggle. The problem for many, however, is the
problem St. Paul wrote about in Galatians. The problem is
beginning in the Spirit and trying to be made perfect by the law
(Gal3) The law is rooted in our flesh and in our soul. It
takes time to unlearn what is so prevalent in the human
experience. Unless we forsake all, deny ourselves, and take up
our cross, a mixture of law and Spirit will be at work. Unless we
are led of the Spirit, we will stay under the law, subject to sin,
sickness, and death. We will be subject to fear and anxiety.
Amen |