And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So, God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Romans 8:2-4 NLT
You’ve heard the statement, “When you know better, you do better.” It’s a well-known quote and said often in very encouraging conversations. The only problem is, it’s not usually true. Just knowing better does most of us very little good. Think about it. Moses hand delivered the Law of God to the Israelites, and they knew better in great detail. They knew exactly what to do and not to do, and what difference did it make? Before Moses came back down from the mountain, they were worshiping a golden calf. As the Roman’s writer says clearly that the law is unable to save us, it is still the same. The law points out our failures and weaknesses, and we feel unworthy and trapped.
In other words, Paul is declaring that all the commands of God in the Old Testament didn’t change the hearts of the people of Isarel and they couldn't change his heart, either. And even though these commands in the Law demanded righteousness, even Paul’s best intentions couldn’t live up to them. Neither can we. But we don’t have to! Even though the Law can’t produce transformation and a new heart and life, Paul declares that the Spirit can.
Paul teaches more about it in Galatians 5:22-23. He says that the Spirit produces fruit within that cannot be produced otherwise: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (ESV). Can you imagine our relationships and home being filled with all of that? What satisfaction a life filled with the Holy Spirit can make in every area of life!
The Holy Spirit produces the life change that nothing else can. The Holy Spirit fulfills the purity of life and righteousness that you cannot fulfill alone.
- Father, our only hope of living the life You designed for us and the life that fulfills us deeply is being filled with the Spirit. Thank You for the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit working in us to make us like You.