The choice

DEVOTION
ROMANS
THE CHOICE
Rom 8:1-4
8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. NIV

Now, this is something I think I might be able to live by, the Spirit of life. It certainly seems to me, that I am faced with the simple fact God will not condemn me because I have agreed to accept Christ into my life. It was Jesus who lived and fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law, and therefore if I am in him, I too have already fulfilled them. I surely cannot do that within my own power and abilities. I surely have to understand I am not capable at all to live up to the standards set forth in the law. I must admit to myself, no matter how hard I try I cannot and therefore I am subject to the condemnation of the law, which proclaims me to be a sinner, and thus punishment by death is my end. But wait, there is more, it is not over, I can choose to live by the Spirit. The law could not set me free from the punishment of death, in fact, it caused that result in me, and so I really was left with the only intelligent decision to make, choose life over death. I am so relieved I made that choice, having to face death, and I must admit, I do not believe in eternal torment, but having to face the second death, the end of existing, was an unbearable thought. Praise God for sending Jesus, Praise God that Jesus did it completely right and was sinless and thus was able to become sin for me. Praise God I am saved.