A large proportion of the New Testament letters are written addressing these issues. Why ? Because they are fundamental to us, …..and because we struggle with them.
Even when we have become a Christian, we slip back into old ways of thinking.

Biblically, there are three ways you can live, possibly 4 if you’re a believing Jew.

By the Flesh, by the Law, by the Spirit…..by the Promise.

Where is this nation generally ?
Where are the people around you in day to day life ?
Most importantly at this moment, where are you ?

In our sinful nature we just want to do what we want, without caring about the consequences. People think they are free, but this way of living is incredibly destructive to themselves and to others.
And the conscience has to be denied and the heart hardened to continue to live this way.

Romans 2:12.
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Before Jesus death and resurrection the Jewish people were still under the law, and Jesus uses the law during His life on earth to show people their need of Him.

Galatians 4:3-7.
So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

God gave the law, not to save us, but to show us we need saving.
That’s why the law has a role in evangelism or pre-evangelism (Wesley).
The law shows us God’s standard, and unless we’re very proud, we soon realize that we can’t live up to it. That we’re in a mess. The law reveals sin and our guilt.

James 2:10,11.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

Romans 3:19,20.
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

The law shows us right and wrong, that there are absolutes, that God is holy.
It makes us aware of sin, and can actually spark us to be more sinful.
‘Don’t look in there’ ‘Don’t press that button’

Romans 7:4-13.
So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

The law is like a light showing up our sin. It’s like a laser beam that shows that we’re kinked. It’s like a flashing blue police light that tells us something is wrong.
When presented with God’s standard, we then feel guilt and know we deserve judgement.
The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment to a person’s heart. And what is the sword of the Spirit which He uses to do it, penetrating deep within us to the core of our being….….the Word of God.
We need help, a saviour, someone who can put it right. No human can surely, God is our only hope.

Galatians 3:23-25
Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

The answer is of course, Jesus, and putting our faith in Him.
Jesus lived a perfect life (in God’s eyes, not the Pharisees and law teacher’s eyes).
He fulfilled God’s law, completed it, and died as a perfect sacrifice for our sin.

Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”.

1 John 3:4-6
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

Jesus died in our place and took our sin, our rebellion against God and His commands.
And to establish a new covenant with us. A covenant made by His blood, that we might live our lives by the Spirit.
Once you’re forgiven, don’t try then going back to the law. The law is not for those who live by faith in Christ.
It’s not a second chance to make the same mistakes all over again……..it’s a NEW covenant……..a new way of being and of living, with God living in us.

Ephesians 2:14-18.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two (Jews and gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Our salvation doesn’t depend on us, but on Jesus and simply putting our faith in Him.

So what happens then, when we’ve put our faith in Jesus. We live by the Spirit – life in all it’s fullness.

The Spirit brings life; the flesh counts for nothing. John 6:63.

..for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6b.

Galatians 2:15-21.
“We who are Jews by birth and not `Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
“If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed,
I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Some Christians seem to think that being a Christian means obeying the law, the 10 commandments, and when we slip up God forgives us because of Jesus. Not so !
Jesus died, to change the way we relate to God…..now as a loving Father.
To change the way we live….no longer by the law, but by the Spirit….who lives in you. It’s about a relationship of love. And to know that you are loved in that way by the God of the universe…..brings freedom.
All the things that bound us, God wants us to be free of, including trying to live up to His law. We obey God, because He loves us….and we love Him.
You listen to, and want to please, someone you really love.
And you want to spend time with them.

Which is better ?
As a parent, to put up a list of rules in the house and say to your kids, ‘Obey these rules whether I’m here or not, this is what you have to do’
Or to say, ‘I love you guys and I want to show you how much, so stick with me kids, listen, and follow my lead’
In case you’re in any doubt, it’s the second. This is how the Lord wants to be with us – not law, …..a close, constant, relationship.

You are free in Christ, …….but God wants us to use it to serve one another in love.
It’s a relationship of love – with Daddy, and with your brothers and sisters.
Some people suggest that as we grow as Christians, God leaves us to do more and more on our own – sounds okay, but I don’t believe it’s Scriptural.
When people in the Bible did things without God’s leading or strength, it was disastrous. We must become like children – a simplicity of trust and faith, that needs to deepen, not weaken. Trust in the Lord, with ALL your heart.
Living in grace. Living in the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-4.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Galatians 5:13-23.
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Life is all about love, for God and for each other.
A real, deep, practical, committed, faithful, …love….that can only come from God.
(Refer to Matthew 24:12 & Revelation 2:4).
We need to know God’s love ourselves, and be filled with God’s love to be effective for Him. Motivated by love for God and for people. And that love comes from the Holy Spirit – and letting God be Dad.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.