God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:3-4).

The Apostle Paul passionately argues here that while God requires righteous conduct for our well-being, our conduct doesn’t earn our salvation. God alone provides our right standing with him. He did this by sending his own Son in our likeness to die for our sin.

This clearly demonstrates that God has no tolerance for our sin, and at the same time, it demonstrates his unswerving love for us. That love allowed for the requirements of the law to be met by Jesus on behalf of all who believe in him. That same love revealed what God requires to experience the blessings of his Spirit as we walk through life.

We wrestle and argue to make sense of it all, but as Jesus explained, even a child can make sense of the basics. A mother puts herself at risk to bear a child (Jn. 16:21-22). Nothing the infant has done, or could do, caused it to deserve such love. The mother’s love that gave life was sacrificial and unconditional. And from the same heart of love will come instructions to the growing child about what is safe to do.

Love provided the life and love provides the instruction. Following the instruction does not make the child a son or daughter, but a child who believes in the love of the mother, and wants to experience more of it, will follow the instruction. We follow God’s law not to earn his love but because of it.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I believe you sent Jesus because you loved me before I loved you. Now help me live for him who loved me and gave himself for me.