Paul continues to explain to his Jewish readers why it's ok for them to
follow Jesus and not feel like they're cheating on God who gave them the
law. Like many people today, they find it hard to give up the idea
that life is all about working hard at being good...
STOP and read Romans 7:1-6
Many of Paul's Jewish readers would have felt like following Jesus was
like trading in their old God for a new one. Paul explains that it's
actually the same God but a new deal. The old deal was the law but this
was only meant to show them just how much they fail God and need his
mercy and forgiveness. It was pointing all along to Jesus who would
live the life they couldn't live and die in their place for their sin so
they could be forgiven. This is the new deal. Following Jesus isn't
cheating on God's law because God through Jesus had released them from
trying to please him by obeying the law. They weren't sure about
following Jesus because their identity was so wrapped up in working hard
at being good.
Many people today miss the point of life in exactly the same way. Their
identity is wrapped up in working hard at being good and they think
this is the way to achieve their full potential. If they're doing well,
it leads them to pride. If they're not, it leads them to despair.
Either way, because they're so focused on earning their way in their own
strength, they miss what every human being really needs: a rescuer who
can bring them mercy and forgiveness from God.
Paul says his readers need to die so they might belong to another (v4).
They needed to give up the futility of trying to be good enough in
their own strength and to see that it's all pointing them in the
direction of Jesus, who lived the life they could not live and died in
their place for their sin so they could be forgiven and free. People
today need to do the same thing.
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