But now that we have died to those chains that imprisoned us, we have been released from the law to serve in a new Spirit-empowered life, not the old written code.
Dear Ones: A New Spirit-empowered Life! The chains that Paul referred to were the stringent laws the Jews followed under the old covenant. The religious hierarchy added fence laws to the Law of Moses to (supposedly) keep the people from sinning. For instance, the Law of Moses said not to work on the Sabbath. The religious leaders then added how far they were allowed to walk on the Sabbath. These hard religious chains weighed heavy on the people.
Under the new covenant certified by the Blood of Christ, we are free to experience a new spirit-empowered life. Everywhere the Lord Jesus went, He preached about this new life in the Spirit and the responsibility that comes with its freedom. We see the delineation of these teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 7:28-29 reveals how the people reacted to His teachings. “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
Spirit-empowered Life
Romans 8 is power filled with good instructions about living a spirit-empowered life. For example, Romans 8:2,6b reveals, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. … but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” When we follow the leadership of the Spirit then the peace of the Lord is one of the benefits we receive.
Declaration: “In Christ, I am living a new Spirit-empowered life. I am the head and not the tail. Through Him, I am more than a conqueror; I am an overcomer. I am free from the old pains and hurts of the past; I am a new creation because He lives in me. Praise the Lord.” Have a Spirit-empowered day. I bless you in Jesus’ name.