8.85 The law works externally but the Spirit works in our hearts
Israel had the law written on stones. It was external, cold and impersonal; but Christians have the Holy Spirit who writes His laws in our hearts (Heb 8:10). In contrast, the Holy Spirit works from within; our relationship with God is alive and so personal.
The law had no transforming effect on the heart of the sinner. It merely demanded for his fleshly performance. In contrast, the Spirit works within the heart of the believer bringing about change through fruit of the Spirit. The Mosaic Law tells us “we have to” though we “don’t want to” (Rom 7:15-16). The Holy Spirit gives us the “want to”. He works in us to WILL and to DO.
(Phil 2:13)
…for it is God who works in you both TO WILL and TO DO for His good pleasure.
When the Holy Spirit puts His laws in our minds and writes His laws in our hearts, we will receive both the knowledge of His will and the desire to perform.
(Heb 8:10)
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS…
Why are we not experiencing more of the reality of the Holy Spirit? Why are we not experiencing more of His desire in our hearts? This is because when we walk under the system of law, we short circuit the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” In the New Covenant, the mark of our sonship in God is the leading of the Holy Spirit from within. It is an intimate experience that Israel did not enjoy. They only had the law written on stones.
Gal 5:18 says, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Serving under the law written on stones (Ten Commandments) is opposed to following the leading of the Spirit in our hearts. The first is a futile effort to attain to righteousness while the second is the outworking of our righteousness in Christ. To be led by the Spirit, we have to cease striving to serve under the law written on stones (Rom 7:6).
You can only follow one or the other. Walking under law is not walking in faith. Since the Holy Spirit responds only to faith, He is hindered by the lack of faith. Today, when we serve under law, we will not experience the leading of the Spirit.
The law had no transforming effect on the heart of the sinner. It merely demanded for his fleshly performance. In contrast, the Spirit works within the heart of the believer bringing about change through fruit of the Spirit. The Mosaic Law tells us “we have to” though we “don’t want to” (Rom 7:15-16). The Holy Spirit gives us the “want to”. He works in us to WILL and to DO.
(Phil 2:13)
…for it is God who works in you both TO WILL and TO DO for His good pleasure.
When the Holy Spirit puts His laws in our minds and writes His laws in our hearts, we will receive both the knowledge of His will and the desire to perform.
(Heb 8:10)
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS…
Why are we not experiencing more of the reality of the Holy Spirit? Why are we not experiencing more of His desire in our hearts? This is because when we walk under the system of law, we short circuit the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” In the New Covenant, the mark of our sonship in God is the leading of the Holy Spirit from within. It is an intimate experience that Israel did not enjoy. They only had the law written on stones.
Gal 5:18 says, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Serving under the law written on stones (Ten Commandments) is opposed to following the leading of the Spirit in our hearts. The first is a futile effort to attain to righteousness while the second is the outworking of our righteousness in Christ. To be led by the Spirit, we have to cease striving to serve under the law written on stones (Rom 7:6).
You can only follow one or the other. Walking under law is not walking in faith. Since the Holy Spirit responds only to faith, He is hindered by the lack of faith. Today, when we serve under law, we will not experience the leading of the Spirit.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 9:14 PM
<< Home