Thoughts on the Epistle to the Romans (132) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin. He condemned sin in the flesh.
Romans 8:3

Thoughts on the Epistle to the Romans (132)
The law is "good", but it "made nothing perfect" (Hebrews 7:19), for it addresses man in the flesh who is tainted with Adam's sinful nature. It has no power to fulfil the commandments of the law.

For this reason the law can indeed condemn the sinner, but it cannot free him from the bondage of sin and enable him to serve God.

What the law cannot achieve, God has Himself done. Therefore Jesus Christ came to earth "in the likeness of sinful flesh". Note the precision of the expression: it does not say "in the likeness of flesh", for the Son of God would then not have been truly man. Nor does it say: "in the flesh of sin", for then He would have been tainted with the stain of sin and could not become our Redeemer.

"In the likeness of sinful flesh" signifies: Christ truly became man, yet without sin (cf. 1 John 3:5). He was therefore able to become the sacrifice for the countless sinful deeds and also for the evil root from which the deeds sprang forth.

Christ, "who knew no sin" was made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). That is the reason why there is now no condemnation for all who belong to Christ (v.1).

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Exodus 35:20-35 · Luke 16:14-18