Holy, righteous, and good.

Romans 7:12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Paul knew the Roman Jews would initially think that Paul had thrown the Law under the bus when he wrote that it aggravated, defined, and made sin alive to the point of killing them. They might conclude that the Law must be a terrible thing, and if God gave it, that makes Him a terrible person. So this statement about the Law being holy, righteous, and good was necessary. The Law is holy, righteous, and good because God is holy, righteous, and good. We have insight into Paul’s understanding of the Law also from Galatians 5:14. “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’” Later in Romans 13:10 Paul echoes the same truth. “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:17), Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” Jesus not only fulfilled the Law by loving when He was in His earthly body, but He is still fulfilling it in His new bodily creation as we love with Him. We are the body of Christ, and as He loves through us, He is fulfilling His Law which is holy, righteous, and good. Let us be encouraged today to live not by the commandments of the Law, but by the life of the Law-giver. He is love, and loving with Him far exceeds the requirements of the Law. Commit yourself, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to love with Jesus, and do what is in the highest good of everyone you meet. What is the highest good? It is for them to bring God glory through Jesus Christ on “that day”—the day they stand before Jesus and give Him an account of their lives. If you do so, then it will be revealed that you did what was holy, righteous, and good in God’s sight. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com