Devotion 9/12, God So Loved!
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3-4
The law could not produce holy living because it was weak through the flesh. The trouble was not with the law but with fallen human nature. The law just could not get people to fulfill its sacred requirements. The law spoke to mankind who were already sinners and without strength to fully obey.
Had the story ended there, how sad and hopeless we would be. But praise God, He saw our pathetic condition and loved us so very much that He sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to come to this earth and meet the requirements that we were powerless to meet!
Jesus came in the “likeness of sinful man”. It is crucial to note here that Jesus did not come as a sinful man, only in the “likeness of” in that He had a human body, He never sinned. He did no sin (1 Peter 2:22), He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), and there was no sin in Him (1 John3:5). When Jesus went to the cross His human body became the sacrifice for our sin for He is the sinless, spotless, Lamb of God! Only He could shed His innocent blood for our sins and redeem us to God!
Now the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit that is in us. As we surrender our will to the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to love God and to love others, which is after all, what the law requires!
Aren’t you glad that God sent Jesus?!
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your incomparable kindness and grace in giving me your great and perfect gifts — your precious and perfect Son and the blessed Holy Spirit to empower us. In Jesus’ name, and the Holy Spirit, I praise and thank you. Amen.
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