What Law Is That?
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB
Law of sin and death – It should be no surprise by now that Paul uses the Greek word nomos in a variety of ways. Sometimes he uses it for an expected social practice of an identifiable community (like we use the words “social more”). Sometimes he uses it like we use the word “principle.” Sometimes he means the identity marker of being Jewish. Sometimes he means Torah. And sometimes he uses nomos like we use the idea of a “universal law of science.” Knowing the differences makes all the difference. If we read this verse as though Paul uses the word nomos for “Torah,” then we will think that he is saying Torah is sin and death. But this simply cannot be true since Paul says in the same letter that Torah is good and holy. So this means that Paul must be using nomos in this verse in some other way. In particular, here Paul uses nomos in the sense of ‘universal rule,” that is, something that applies to everyone just like the “law” of gravity.
Now let’s read this verse again. “For the universal rule of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the universal rule of sin and of death.” What does this mean? Paul is saying that, as a result of the resurrection, the general rule-application of the God of life, exemplified and executed in Yeshua the Messiah, has overthrown the general rule-application of sin and death. Where once sin always resulted in death (a general rule), now Yeshua’s act has overthrown that rule. Sin can lead to repentance and repentance leads to life. Sin no longer has a final grip on you.
The verse has nothing to do with Torah. Torah is not the rule of sin and death. Sin is the consequence of disobeying God’s instructions and disobedience leads to death. Torah does not cause death anymore than it causes you to jump off a tall building. But once you decide to jump off and actually do so, gravity takes effect and you fall. Once you decide to sin and actually do so, disobedience takes effect and you die. Yeshua’s atonement now makes it possible for you not to die in the fall! Life counteracts death. Thank God!
Imagine the confusion when we treat every instance of the word nomos the same way. If we do, then we end up with Paul contradicting himself. Torah is life but Torah is death. Torah is bad but Torah is good. Torah is only to lead us to Christ but Torah is what God expects us to do. What a mess! It’s like insisting that every time we use the word “rule” we mean exactly the same thing. The “rule” of proper social behavior at the table isn’t the same as the “rule” of a king, is it? Definitions are determined by usage, so we must see how Paul uses the word in order to determine what he means by the word.
What law is the law of sin and death? It is the “law” of instructions in righteousness? Or is it the universally applicable rule that “the soul that sins will die”?
Topical Index: nomos, rule, principle, Torah, law, Romans 8:2, death, sin, life
“If we read this verse as though Paul uses the word nomos for “Torah,” then we will think that he is saying Torah is sin and death. But this simply cannot be true since Paul says in the same letter that Torah is good and holy. So this means that Paul must be using nomos in this verse in some other way.”
I think the premise here is incorrect. Paul clearly explains his point in the preceding chapter, verses 7 to 11. Torah is good and holy, but it produces sin because it defines sin.
I have read with interest your reply and I agree with you in some of it, yes it produces sin because it defines sin but it doesn’t mean that Torah itself is sin you produce your own sin when you act upon what is defined as sin.
G-d bless you
John, you are very close here, but it is our own selfish desires that produce the fruit of sin, not Torah. Ying and yang do not exist in Torah. There is not a “bad ” side to Yeshua, or our heavenly Father, Who’s words Yeshua spoke. We must learn to separate every theology that mixes ideas from other religions with the One True God. I Thess. 5:21,22
Remember that all of the psalmists AND the prophets, all in unison declare that God’s Word (Torah) is life for those who follow It/Him!
Paul tells us in Gal. 5:22,23 that the fruit of the Spirit is good things against which there are no instructions or restrictions. In other places we are told that the Spirit reveals TRUTH to us and further searches reveal that TRUTH=GOD’S WORD=TORAH=YESHUA
Once again Skip nailed this one and does a good job of revealing the problems with the transfer of the original intent of the text into the english translations.
I do however, want to point out that the first 15 words of this verse have everything to do with Torah, in that they give the CURE for the effects of the Law of Sin and Death. I think Skip misspoke in his effort to help us rightly divide the Word, and I’m a little too tired right now to get into the details. Perhaps I’ll try again tomorrow, or Skip will beat me to it.
What we seem to forget so easily is that Torah is not JUST the the defining of sin, but it is in it’s entirety the revelation of G-d’s character. It spells out what He does and does not DO and in so doing it defines what is and is not sin. We are commanded to do as He does and walk as He walks.
Before Yeshua did anything He kept Torah for thirty years. He was sinless! Then He took away the sins of others by teaching them how to keep Torah the same way he did.
1Jn.3:3-8 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him (lives the way He lived) [emphasis mine] does not sin. Whoever sins (practices lawlessness as defined by Torah) has neither seen Him or Known Him. Little children let no one deceive you. He who PRACTICES righteousness (as defined by Torah) is righteous just as He is righteous. Whoever sins (practices lawlessness as defined by Torah) is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works (lawless practices) of the devil.
Great explanation, Skip, thanks!
Thanks for helping us work through these verses, the conversation is sooooo worth having.
But,… could Paul be talking about written law (Torah) vs. oral law? Or,… that we are set free from the curses explained in Torah (death) – by following Torah (life)?
Not trying to muddy the water, and I definitely like the explanation – it means that there are multiple possibilities besides “doing away with the Law”, or Paul teaching schizophrenic theology.
I love today’s word is so enlightening to my soul thanks for helping me break free from so much rules and regulations man made. I want to make a correction on what I reply to John Lightfoot I kept on thinking on what you wrote and what I replied came to think that Torah doesn’t produce sin it simply as you rightly said defines it what produces sin is actually doing what it defines by sin.
Once again thank you Mr. Moen and God bless you.
“Sin no longer has a final grip on you.”
Then sings my soul!!! Praise YHVH for giving us Yeshua HaMashiach.
“THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS”
Having been born and raised a Catholic,
my life was consumed by guilt and the
mandate to obey God’s Law.
Never being able to completely do so,
I was pointed to the weekly confessional
where my sins were “absolved” and I was
free and clean to receive communion.
This process repeated itself endlessly until
God’s loving Spirit revealed Himself to me
through His Word, along with some suddenly
appearing wonderful people who literally came
out of nowhere to love and assist me in my
new “re-newal.”
Romans 8 was God’s life changing word for me.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has set me free from the law of sin and death.”
“THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS”
That was the huge revelation for me. God is Spirit.
And everything about Him and His kingdom is
spiritual as well. My entire axis was turned upside
down and inside out!
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are
life.” Jn 6:63
I finally realized that Jesus lived and moved in the natural
to show us and move us into the supernatural realm of His
Kingdom which was already within us. How startling!
Jesus did what I could never do.
Romans 8:10-11 overwhelms me to this day.
“And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because
of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead
will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit
who dwells in you.”
I am eternally grateful to God for the revelation of His Spirit
who leads me in faithful pursuit and obedience to Jesus, my Savior!
For Your Eyes Only
The Law of Sin and Death (it’s personal!)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
(Romans 8:2)
What is the “law of sin and death?” It dates back to Adam and is revealed here in Ezekiel 18.20:
~ The one who sins is the one who will die. ~
(and again in Romans 6.23..) ~ The wages of sin is death. ~
~ The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him ~
Personal responsibility. Personal reward.
Adam sinned, and what happened? So long Paradise.. Both were expelled from the Garden. Paradise lost.
What “occurs” when we sin?
~but your iniquities (our twistedness) have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid His face from you that He will not hear.. ~ (Isaiah 59.2)
Would we rather God turn His face “towards us” or “from us?”
Who is Light? Who is Love? Who is Life? As it is revealed in the holy scriptures, ~ it is the LORD. ~
What are the results of sin?
Sin divides.
Sin destroys relationships.
Sin separates.
Sin scars.
Sorrow follows sin as night follows day. On the day Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden, they were not “happy-happy!”
There is a great gulf, a fixed divide between God (who is holy) and man (who is sinful). Just another gentle reminder, ~ ALL have sinned..~ is exactly that. ~ *ALL* have sinned.
The Jew, the Gentile, all men everywhere. All, from the age of Adam and after. Adam’ sons and their sons- down through the portals of time. All men B.C. and all men A.D. Moses, the servant of God sinned. So did Abraham. So did Jonah. So did David. So did (saint) Peter, and (saint) Paul and Mary, and me.
I too, have sinned and am no longer “worthy” to be called Your son!” The prodigal son has many brothers and sisters! (Actually, and in reality, it was the Father who was “prodigal!”) – Lavish (extreme) grace!!
Yes, Houston.. we have ourselves a problem… ~ for all have sinned.. ~
And?
Are we left to fend for ourselves? What now? The problem is easily identifiable, but what (if any) would be the solution?
What can wash away my sin?
And what can make me whole again?
The bad news is: Sin separates or divides. But is there any “good news?” for us? Is there a solution for the pollution of sin?
God (Himself) provided a covering of skins (an atonement) for Adam and Eve.
and ~ God provided (Himself) a Lamb for Abraham, but
~ Sirs, – what must I do to be saved? ~ (Acts 16.30,31)
The Law of Sin and Death (it’s personal!)
Hi Carl,
I agree and think the Law must be put into concrete, personal, terms or it is just an abstraction
The Law of Sin and Death, in any case, now makes me think of you 🙂
Pretty thought provoking!
“What law is the law of sin and death? It is the “law” of instructions in righteousness? Or is it the universally applicable rule that “the soul that sins will die”?”
It would be BOTH, it is the law of walking in righteousness, which is truth according to YHWH’s ways/instructions that lead to life in Him.
It is also the law that reveals transgressions that will lead to death, if we do not turn around back to Him.
These will be based on our decisions in the free will that has been given to us, to choose life or death;
if we desire life, or, death. We are not delivered, nor can we ever be delivered from sin or death, as with gravity, it is a natural ‘law’ enforced from creation to keep us ‘grounded’.