This the power of the cross, Christ became sin for us.
”There was enormous power released in the world on that first Easter. The power released because My Son died on the cross becoming sin for you – so that your sins could be forgiven and the way opened up to Me. The huge black cloud of sin was towering over the world and it took all that power to neutralise it. It is so easy to say the words, but the actual process, the deed, the transaction. It was huge – remember this, as you participate in the memory of that first Easter. Appreciate every drop of blood, every pang of agony, every shaft of pain – all for you, you personally.”
Please read Romans 7:7-25. As we carry on from last week, remember Paul’s 5 steps in his argument about the law and its relation to us, having declared that the Christian has died to the law as any means of his salvation. 7:4. Last week we dealt with the questions in 7-11, Is the law in itself sin?and in v 13 Did that which is good become death to me? Today we will deal with the last 3 questions which lead Paul to cry out “who will rescue me from this body of death?”
Vv 13 -23 “The law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin”. This is proved by the fact that no matter how much we try to obey the law – we always end up doing the exact opposite of what the law requires. This is the great battle of the non-Christian. Paul is writing in the first person, but not speaking about himself. He is addressing the universal problem of those who are as yet unsaved.
Vv 24, 25 This battle brings me to be conscious of the desperate situation that I am in! Is there someone out there who can rescue me? And the wonderful answer: Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! There is indeed Someone who can save us and after the way Paul has written this chapter we should all value Jesus’ work on the cross so much more this Easter.
V 25b There is more.The Christian now, is involved in a raging battle within. The spiritual part of me longs in its mind to obey the law, but there is still our sinful nature which is active and keeps dragging us back towards sin. Paul will now continue to unpack this thought. In ch 8.
Everyone of us, if you are a real Christian will be aware of this battle. This passage explains it very nicely.
May God draw close to you all this Easter and help you to appreciate anew all the events we will celebrate.