Damning Definition of Death / Relieving Rhetoric of Redemption

For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. [Romans 5.10-11]

Sin existed before the law was given (see Romans 5.13). The law was given to confirm sin's existence and to give definition to the death that mankind had already been experiencing. This sin, originating with Adam, was an infectious disease - a genetic code alteration if you will - that doomed mankind to death and destruction. The law was somewhat an owner's manual for sin.

This same law however that was originally the "Why You Are Dying for Dummies" manual, after the advent of Jesus, became the "Why You Live Through Christ for Dummies" manual.

The law didn't actually bring death in and of itself - sin did that - the law, again, gave the explanation why. The law could do nothing for the sin problem - only define it.

Jesus dealt with the sin problem directly. Because He was not genetically linked to Adam and therefore not a carrier of the disease of sin, the law had no jurisdiction over Jesus (thus He broke Sabbath laws, etc...). Then, when Jesus suffered an unjust death (He was punished for laws that did not apply to Him), the integrity of the law became flawed - the power it had so unmercifully wielded was diluted into nothingness. Because of the eternal and perfect nature of God Himself (in Christ), when sin's punishment was unleashed upon Jesus, there was simply not enough punishment there to destroy eternal God. Instead, all that punishment - for all time - was sucked into oblivion by the perfection of God...

...For those who believe.

So, the law, a damning definition of death before, became the relieving rhetoric of redemption after Jesus' work.

There is simply so much to think about and be thankful for in today's NT reading!

Father, thank You once again for Jesus!