Overcoming Guilt
Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2
Guilt is a judicial concept in a court of law presided over by a judge. In order to establish guilt or innocence, there has to be a law or moral standard. People are deemed guilty when they fail to live up to a moral standard or when they break the law. In the book of Romans, Paul argues our case for a “not guilty” verdict in the heavenly court where God is the presiding judge.
Paul starts by admitting that “there is no one righteous, not even one” (3:10), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). That is not the defense we were hoping for, but he isn’t finished! “All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ” (3:24). Did God do away with the law or water it down so all would qualify on their own merit? A righteous judge couldn’t do that, because justice must be served. So, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received in faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness” (3:25).
This infuriated the prosecutor who accuses those who have sinned day and night (see Revelation 12:10). “Jesus couldn’t have paid it all,” whispers the evil one. He demands the judge make them earn their way. Paul argues back, “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5). “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:1).
Paul then turns to the accused and says, “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11). I would like to do that, says the doubter, but sin is still all around me, and believing Christians are still dying. Paul explains that death is the end of a relationship but not of existence. Besides, “sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (6:14). Under the law Satan had a standard by which he could accuse the person, but under grace he doesn’t. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (8:1-2).
Paul used the word “law” in reference to sin and death to make a powerful point. You can’t do away with a law, so how can justified Christians overcome such laws? They overcome the law of sin and the law of death by a greater law, which is the law of life in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever tried to fly? You can’t, because there is no power within you to overcome the law of gravity. However, we can “fly” in an airplane, which has the power to overcome the law of gravity. As long as we live by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh (see Galatians 5:16).
“Not guilty,” says the judge. Court adjourned.