Title Romans 08:1-2 Freedom from sin
Content Freedom from sin (Romans 8:1,2)
Continuing from last week, today, we would like to examine the truth of salvation contained in the book of Romans. Kanzo Uchimura, a lay Bible scholar in Japan, said:
“Because of the book of Romans, the world has been transformed many times. What if this book didn't exist? Will we ever see the world we see today? Were it not for the several world transformations that this book brought about, we would still be groaning in the dark of psychic bondage.”
(From the first lecture of the study of Romans)
Currently, our society is in the process of reform. However, there is no choice but to stay at reforming the institutions and forms of society. However, the reformation in Romans centers around a reformation of the soul.
It is not the reform of the outer man, but the reform of the inner man. The first reason why our society's reform has been sluggish is that it deals only with external reforms and institutional reforms without being supported by internal reforms and spiritual reforms. In that sense, Romans becomes a textbook of eternal reformation.
The subject of doctrine in Romans is the problem of sin. It is a matter of how to solve the problem of sin that corrodes human souls. That is the theory of atonement. Of course, the problem of sin is also dealt with in other religions. In Buddhism, sects such as the Pure Land Jin sect (淨土眞宗) treat liberation from sin as the central doctrine.
There is. However, there are some things that exist only in Christianity, not in other religions. It is the cross of Jesus Christ. There are many religions in the world, but none of them teach the way of atonement through the death of the cross. The reason why the Gospel of Christianity is the Gospel lies in the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Romans 8 speaks of freedom from sin:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).
The solution to the problem of sin that afflicts all human beings is “in Christ Jesus.” Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins. He died on the cross to solve the problem of all mankind's sins. This is the theme of Romans and the heart of biblical truth. Freedom from sin is the beginning and end of true reform. Let's become victorious Christians by rightly realizing the book of Romans, believing it, and living the truth of the Atonement contained in it.