07/10/2025
"THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN
CHRIST JESUS HATH MADE ME FREE"
DESTINY FAITH CENTER
Pastor Daniel Gromer
October 17, 2010
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Romans 8:2: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
The word “Spirit” is referred to more times in Romans Chapter 8 than in any other book in the Bible! The reason for such emphasis carries some very encouraging and comforting truths. This Truth is the “Truth that will set you free truth” that God REALLY wants us to know and experience! The correct understanding of the word “Spirit” and how it is most predominantly used throughout the eighth chapter of Romans is vital; therefore, let us briefly examine this before moving into the “TWO” chief understandings and knowledge of “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free.”
This is a “very important” understanding that must be kept in your conscience mind while God is doing His work in us. God's power was perfectly revealed through His Works of raising Jesus from the Dead and it's important to always know:
“THE CONSCIENCE ACT OF RELEASING THE KINGDOM
INTO THE HUMAN BODY BROKE THE POWER OF DISEASE
AND DEATH AND RAISED HIM UP IN RESURRECTION POWER”
Defining the way "Spirit" is most predominantly used in Romans Chapter 8:
Let’s start with an accurate definition of the word “Spirit”: The English word "Spirit" comes from the Latin word Spiritus, meaning "breath”, from a root word peis- (to blow). In the Vulgate (the Latin translation of the Bible from late in the 4th century), the Latin word Spiritus is from the Greek word pneuma, also meaning a current of air, breath (blast) or a breeze, and by implication it means “vital principle” (to understand what is meant by “vital principle” just try to whistle without blowing in or out). The idea of Spirit being the "vital principle" of certain effects can be seen from the Bible in many ways, but these next four points offer some simple and clear logic for seeing how this idea is communicated therein:
1. John 4:24 tells us that "God is Spirit". This is a very significant point to remember.
2. Genesis 2:7 states that Adam became a living soul when God (who is Spirit) breathed life into him. I'd say this is a pretty good example of Spirit being a vital principle, wouldn't you?
3. The manuscripts behind 2 Timothy 3:16-17 all literally state “all Scripture is God-breathed." Again, we know from John 4:24 that God is Spirit. Here we see Spirit as being the vital principle concerning God's Written Word.
4. In Acts 2:2 and 3 there was a sound as "a rushing mighty wind” that ushered in the gift of Holy Spirit, and they all spoke in tongues. In 1 Corinthians 12, we discover that speaking in tongues is a "manifestation of the Spirit.” This can be thought of much in the same way as a whistle sound is the manifestation of wind being blown though a source capable of producing such a sound.
The effects of Spirit can be experienced by the five senses, but Spirit itself, being the vital principle, does not have any physical properties, it is invisible, it cannot be seen, nor can it be tasted, heard, smelled or touched. It is like wind, you can't see it but you can feel it and see the effects. These basic concepts of air movement are used figuratively throughout the Scriptures, as in the verses above, to help us understand that Spirit is similar to wind, in that it is invisible, yet the effects of its movement can be experienced.
There are other ideas associated with the word Spirit; ideas that can be gleaned from the verses and context wherein the word Spirit is used, and also by comparing passages wherein the word is used in the same way to communicate the same ideas (scriptural build-up). The correct interpretation for the word Spirit and how it is used in the Bible is given by God’s Written Word itself: Peter 1:20: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy [foretelling and/or forth-telling] of the scripture is of any private interpretation." The Scripture in of no private interpretation [literally, "of no one's own opinion"] because it interprets itself. Romans Chapter 8 is no exception as to the ideas about "Spirit" that are being communicated.
So just what is being emphasized by TWENTY uses of the word Spirit in this one short section of Scripture alone? There are many private interpretations about this, but as always, the Bible interprets itself. In this instance it does so both in the immediate context and in other records clearly relating to the same subject; for example, let's compare Romans 8:4-6 to John 6:63-64:
Romans 8:4-6 - John 6:63-64:
(4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace.
(63) It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life. (64) But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Did you see how the word Spirit is used the same way in both sections of Scripture?
In John 6:63 Jesus clearly states "the words that I speak are Spirit and they are LIFE." It is also helpful to note that John 8:28, John 12:49, and John 12:50 inform us that the words Jesus thought and taught were those which God gave him to think and speak. We have also been given words from God to think and speak.
In Romans 8:6 where we read "Spiritual minded is LIFE and PEACE" we need to bear in mind that the previous 7 chapters of the book of Romans had already defined what it is that we are to be Spiritually minded about (most pointedly in 3:21 - 5-21). Romans 1-7 describe this "LIFE" and this "PEACE".
The primary concern of both passages from our chart above (Romans 8:4-6 and John 6:63, 64) assures us that God's Word truly produces results and that God can be trusted. What the Lord God says in the Holy Bible is that what He says produces life and peace.
Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and Spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
God could have used several words other than Spirit for most occurrences in Romans 8; words such as truth, gospel, thoughts, attitude, frame of mind, etc., but He didn’t, He repeatedly uses the word Spirit to emphasize the living and moving power and effectiveness of His word in the walk of His believing children:
1 Thessalonians 2:13: "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
1 Corinthians 1:17, 18: "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
Hebrews 4:2, 3: "2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."
Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew [the nation of Israel] first, and also to the Greek [all other nations].
The book of Romans explains our position in Christ, with the potential power of God latent within each of us, and our authority in Christ to use it, and the incredible eighth chapter of Romans emphatically communicates the VERY active and EFFECTIVE presence of the living God in the walk of His Spiritually minded children-- the gospel minded saints-- US!
Romans 8 uses the word Spirit to communicate and emphasize that we can trust that the gospel is indeed the power of God (as He declares it to be) and therefore encourages us to invest our efforts into knowing the gospel and thinking accordingly, for this produces results:
Colossians 1:5, 6: "(5) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; (6) Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth "the grace of God in truth" is simply another way to say "the gospel"- further emphasizing the nature of the message."
2 Corinthians 2:14: "Now thanks be unto God, Who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place."
Philemon 1:6: "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."
Romans 7:4: "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
Romans 8:2: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Again, we see the words "Spirit" and "Life" as we did from the table above.
It is also important to understand the phrase “hath made me free”. This phrase is one word in the Greek, and it is grammatically used to tell us that ‘the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus’ is that which our country’s freedom is based upon.
This passage is similar in many ways to the Emancipation Proclamation issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln back in 1862 during the American Civil War. Lincoln issued the "Executive Order" by his authority as "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy" under Article II, section 2 of the United States Constitution.
When Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. government freed the slaves, they became free, but they now had to do five things to take advantage of their freedom:
1. They had to know about the proclamation (Romans 8:2: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.")
2. They had to believe it was true (Romans 6:11: "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.")
3. They had to claim their freedom: pack their bags, etc. (Galatians 5:13: "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.")
4. They had to refuse to be a slave--live as a free person (Galatians 5:1: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bo***ge.")
5. They had to count on all the power of the U.S. legislature to stand behind them.
John 8:36: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has freed us from the law of sin and death - we are free indeed! Free for how long? Forever! Moreover, our freedom is not just about the destruction of bonds, but rather it is also about the restoration of God’s order wherein we are free to fulfill the full range of potentialities inherent in that order: to love God and to love one another. Conversely, to use one’s freedom for an opportunity for the flesh is just a different form of slavery.
Our unification with Christ is intended to be experienced and shared; our newness of life in Christ is to be living inward and outward “by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left” (2 Corinthians 6:7)!
As Romans Chapter 8 unfolds, we see more and more clearly that believing God regarding our unification with Christ and each other is central to walking in demonstration of God’s Love and Power, inseparable from God at work within us, and inseparable from the Lordship of Jesus Christ over us.
As we perceive what a distinct progression God’s Word makes in Romans 8 upon the previous chapters, as we see how much of this chapter deals with believers living and walking in unity with God and each another by way of believing the wonderful revelation of Life in Christ Jesus (The Genuine Gospel), we will see that Matthew 9:29 is very true of us indeed: “According to your faith be it unto you;” When we submit to all that is true of us in Christ, then all that is true of us in Christ becomes that which dominates our present experience. We learn that as divinely perfect is the Life of Liberty in Christ Jesus, so also is the truth that reveals that life.
2 Peter 3:18: "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen."
As we become Christ-minded, we become Christ manifested. This is "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus."
May God's greatest blessings richly bless you always. May His Light shine upon you and keep you safe in Jesus name. Amen!
