Romans 1–8 lays bare the true function of the law: it was never given as a ladder for self-improvement or a tool for self-salvation. Rather, the law exposes the utter fallenness of man and brings us into agreement with God’s righteous judgment—a judgment displayed once for all at the cross of Christ. Here, we are compelled to confess: not only are we forgiven, but we have been justly judged and put away, crucified with Christ, the Last Adam. This is not a minor adjustment or a call to moral reform; it is the decisive end of the old man. God’s solution is not to rehabilitate Adam but to terminate him.
This crucifixion with Christ is a positive, liberating act of God. By joining us to Christ’s death, He delivers us from the tyranny of the “oldness of the letter"—that is, the futile striving of the flesh under law. The law’s verdict is not a threat to the believer, but a tool in God’s hand, driving us to agree with His judgment and to embrace our co-crucifixion with Christ. Only then can we stand justified, not by our efforts, but by God’s righteous act.
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
—Romans 8:9–11
With Christ’s resurrection, God has inaugurated something entirely new. The risen Christ now dwells in us as the Spirit. This is not a distant hope but a present reality: the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Though our bodies still bear the marks of sin’s death, the indwelling Spirit is the guarantee of present vitality and the promise of future resurrection. This is the newness of life into which God brings us—not by our striving, but by His power.
We are called, then, to present ourselves to God—not as those seeking to earn His favor, but as those expecting His power to work in us. This is not a call to self-effort, but an invitation to participate in the newness of life and spirit that only He can produce.
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
—Romans 6:4“But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
—Romans 7:6
This agreement with God—what Paul calls the renewing of the mind—is transformative. It is not mere mental assent, but a total reorientation. As we present ourselves as living sacrifices, we are not conformed to the world’s pattern, but are transformed by the renewing of our minds. The result is not confusion or striving, but the ability to discern and prove God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
—Romans 12:1–2
This transformation is not theoretical. It brings us out of the atmosphere of condemnation, death, slavery, bondage, and fear—the inevitable fruit of law and flesh—and into the liberty of the sons of God, the atmosphere of sonship. The Spirit Himself testifies to our adoption, imparting boldness and assurance.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
—Romans 8:1
To walk according to the Spirit is not an optional upgrade; it is the very definition of the Christian life. Here, we reign in life—not by our own strength, but by the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness received through Jesus Christ. This is not a future hope only, but a present reality for all who are in Him.
“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."
—Romans 5:17
Let it be clear: to return to the oldness of the letter, to seek life by law or flesh, is to forfeit the liberty, sonship, and reigning in life that are the birthright of every believer in Christ. If you accept the error that the law is still your master, you lose not only your assurance but the very ground of your justification and inheritance. The Spirit does not empower the old man; He brings newness of life to those who have died and risen with Christ.
This is the finished work. This is your inheritance. Do not settle for less.
