What the Law Could Not Do

What the Law Could Not Do

Here's the Headline: God Did What Our Best Efforts Never Could

Many people view Christianity as a massive ladder of rules. We think if we can just climb high enough, do enough good deeds, and maintain a clean outward appearance, God will accept us.

But Romans 8:3–4 exposes the flaw in that plan:
"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." (LSB)

The Law is a perfect mirror. It shows us our dirt, but it does not have any water to wash us. The weakness is not in God’s commands; the weakness is in our "flesh"—our fallen human nature. We simply cannot keep it perfectly.

So, what did God do?

He did not lower the standard. Instead, He sent His own Son to meet it. Jesus lived the perfect life under the Law that you and I failed to live. Then, He took the execution that our law-breaking deserved.

Now, when you walk by the Spirit, you are not working for your salvation; you are working from it. The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in you because Christ’s perfection is credited to your account.

My friend, rest from your self-help projects today.
Jesus already did what you could never do.


* Take Action: Identify one area where you are trying to earn God’s favor or approval.

* Practice: Intentionally stop striving in that area and accept that Christ already did the work.

* Prayer: "Father, thank You that my acceptance is based on Jesus' performance, not mine."