| Yesterday's Bible Study |
In this verse from Romans, we are reminded that we are free from sin once and for all. Before we knew Jesus, we were like slaves to sin, bound up in our inability to please the Lord. Now we are free from sin and live no longer under the law, but under grace.
Before Jesus came, the Hebrews lived under very strict law. That law, which makes up much of Leviticus, included rigorous deity instructions, rituals for cleansing, and many other regulations. The highly detailed instructions about sacrifices had to be followed perfectly; if they were not, sacrifices would be rejected and people could be struck dead. The law was necessary because the people needed to be perfect before approaching a holy God. The holiness of the Lord could not mix with sin or any imperfections; the law was intended to show the Hebrews how they could approach Him.
However, the law only revealed their need for a savior. They could not keep all the laws and please the Lord, and thus landed in exile and without the blessing of a holy God. What was intended to help them stay near to the Lord ended up only condemning them further.
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The Lord knew this would happen. He anticipated that grace would be the only hope for His people. However, as a holy God, He could not simply give grace without meting out justice. So He sent His son, Jesus, who finally followed the law perfectly, living a sinless life, and then gave His own life, the final and perfect sacrifice that offers justification to each of us today.
Because of Jesus, we no longer live under the law but under grace, as the verse in Romans reads. We no longer have to sacrifice animals before coming to the Lord because Jesus has covered our iniquity. We are able to get to know the Lord through His Word and His work in our hearts, and we can rest in His grace for all of our days.
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