"the Body Of This Death" -nc

The above title is in reference to what Paul termed in the preceding chapter as “the body of sin” (Rom 6:6), having all its “members” (Col 3:5) within the Adamic nature and is the cause of both physical and spiritual death, which originated from Adams disobedience in his covenant with God (Gen 2:7). The “Dichotomy” between the believer’s new nature and the old is evidenced not only in Romans seven but also in Galatians 5:17. Paul’s contemplation of this internal conflict wasn’t just mere thought but an awareness of the co-existence of two natures or “laws”.

The deliverance Paul speaks of in Romans 7:24 is, not from sin itself, but from the condemnation of sin (8:1); freedom “from the law of sin and death” (v 2). Before Christ, and after Adam broke his covenant, there was only one law -- the law of sin and death, which stipulates “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze 18:4, 20); which has been a perpetual law since Genesis 2:7 and will remain until Revelation 2:14.

Since Christ, a new law is in effect for the regenerate – “the law of the Spirit of life” (Rom 8:2).
This law “of life” is the only one to have ever procured eternal life because there is no other “law given which could have given life” (Gal 3:21). This new law has blotted “out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us . . . and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross” (Col 2:14).
 
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