Wednesday, 18 December 2019

The Spirit gives life

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Question of the day: What does this mean? 2 Corinthians 3:6b "For the letter kills, but the Ruach (Spirit) gives life."

Answer: The entire chapter is written around this verse. I could even make a case that the entire Bible is written around this verse. And it’s not even a whole verse.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Law of God is unchanging. Both in letter and in spirit, it's the same law. It’s our approach to the Law that makes the difference between life and death. So let's examine that approach.

In the "letter" approach we have to perform to receive God's favor. Thus the striving to perform at an acceptable level.

When we approach God's righteous standards (that's another way to describe Law) in the Spirit, being acceptable to God is no longer on the table. Grace covered that. It is no longer an issue. Our acceptance is by grace.

Now we are free to obey God according to the leading of His Spirit. And His Spirit will never lead us to disobey Him. That would be a house divided against itself.

When we walk according to the letter of the law, we walk in fear of disobedience. When we walk according to the spirit of the law, we walk in love with a delight to be obedient.

Romans 8:1-4 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua. For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what was impossible for the Torah - since it was weakened on account of the flesh - God has done. Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh - so that the requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Ruach."