Astronauts of grace.

Romans 7:6
But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Sometimes it is hard to explain how we, as Christians, are no longer subject to the law as it pertains to righteousness and sanctification without seeming to imply that the law no longer exists. How do you explain that living under the grace of the cross exempts you from living under the letter of the law, but that the law itself is still applicable in everyday life? How do you explain to a new Christian, a future Christian, or for that matter a longtime Christian, that though the law, that is, the Ten Commandments still apply, they no longer have dominion over us? The simple truth is that through the blood of Jesus Christ we have been set free of the burden of keeping the law.

I guess I like to look at this issue based on another law that exists and holds us down. But just like there are Christians who are released from the law and those who choose to still live under the law, there are also people who have been released from this scientific law as well. The law to which I am referring is the law of gravity.

Gravity is what keeps us from floating away from the earth. Not only that, but it gives us security in knowing that it is constant. Gravity on earth never changes. Any object on the face of the earth that is not otherwise suspended in air (through flight or a strong updraft) will fall to the ground and remain there until another force acts upon it. (An aside: I’m not a scientist or physicist, so bear with me!) God’s law is also constant and never changing. It was given to keep us grounded (for lack of a better word). We are secure in our knowledge of right and wrong based on His words.

Have you ever seen an astronaut? They’re not subject to the limitations imposed by gravity when they’re out there going around the world in the Space Shuttle. No, they are floating around enjoying the freedom of being released from gravity’s dominion over them. But I ask you, has gravity ceased to exist because they are no longer subject to its control? The answer of course is no. Have you ever seen an image from space? It’s beautiful! Astronauts get to see the world, the universe, from a completely different perspective then the rest of us. Why? Because they have been released from the bonds of gravity and their perspective on everything in life has changed.

Friends, when we accept Christ as the Son of God, the Saviour of man, the perfect Lamb, we become astronauts of grace. God’s law doesn’t cease to exist, but keeping it in order to remain in good standing with Him does. We are released (as Paul says) from the bonds of the law, no longer captives to its power. We are free, through grace, to see the world in a different way. When an astronaut returns from space, he is once again working in the law, but has experienced his release from it. We too, are working in the law, but have experienced our freeing release from it.