“God did”

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:

sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin,

He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us,

who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3-4).

A man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" (Mt. 19:16). 

At that time Jesus said to him, “…  If you want to enter life, obey the commandments” (v. 17).

The young man said, “All these I have kept  …  What do I still lack?” (v. 20)

“Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,

and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me’” (v. 21).

“When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth” (v. 22).

Then Jesus said this to his disciples: “I tell you the truth,

it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle

than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (vv. 23-24).

“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’” (v. 25)

When Jesus heard this, He looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible” (v. 26).

This is what the Bible Romans 8:3 says, “For what the Law could not do,

weak as it was through the flesh, God did ….”

When we look at this word, the Bible says God did what the Law couldn’t do.

What did God do?  God did set us free from the law of sin and of death (v. 2).

Here “the law” refers to the Mosaic Law.  

The Bible says the Law is holy and righteous and good (7:12) and spiritual (v. 14).

But the Law cannot set us free from the law of sin and of death (8:2) because it is weak (v. 3).

The Mosaic Law is weak as it was through the flesh

so it cannot set us free from the law of sin and of death (v. 2).

But the Bible says “God did” (v. 3).  How did God set us free from the law of sin and of death?

It was through His begotten Son Jesus Christ (v. 3).

God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin

in order to set us free from the law of sin and of death (v. 3).  

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:!4), yet without sin (Heb. 4:15).

Why did Jesus, who is conceived by the Holy Spirit

and is the holy Child and called the Son of God (Lk. 1:35) become the likeness of weak flesh?

The reason is because He wanted to bear all our sins, the punishment of sins, even our hell (Rom. 5:21).

Also the reason is because He wanted to sympathize with our weaknesses and help us (Heb. 4:15).

God sent Jesus in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin

 and condemned sin in the flesh (Rom. 8:3)

so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us (v. 4).

Although by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight (3:20),

The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law (v. 21)

And those who believe in Him can be justified (4:24).

As a result, we who don’t walk according to the flesh

but according to the Spirit (8:4), has been set free from the law of sin and of death (v. 2).

Now there is no condemnation (v. 1) for us (v. 4) who are in Christ Jesus (v. 1)

and walk according to the law of the Spirit of life (v. 2).

[This is summary of the sermon by our church retired pastor on 2015. 7. 8.]