What Jesus Paid For

"No longer afraid to die."

"The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death." (Romans 8:2, GW)

THE KING JAMES TRANSLATION of the above verse says "the law of the Spirit" and "the law of sin and death," but for this, let's stick with "the standard" because that's what it is. And I like what a known Rebbe said about the commandments of the Torah. He described them as relationship. God wants us to know Him. How beautiful that is!

I want you to notice, though, it says our relationship with the Spirit has freed us from SIN AND DEATH. From the standards of sin and death which destroy us.

It does not say "the devil", "the works of the devil", "the kingdom of Satan" (he doesn't have a kingdom), or "the dominion of Satan" (he doesn't have dominion either).

No we are freed from SIN AND DEATH. He is held captive to it.

Jesus destroyed the devil (Hebrews 2:14). He destroyed the works of the devil (1John 3:8). These are our victory (Colossians 2:15). But Jesus died to destroy sin and death. 2 Timothy 1:10 says death is "abolished". This is the same word used in Hebrews 2:14. It means "rendered useless." The devil is rendered useless. Death is rendered useless. And the fear of death is gone we learn from Hebrews 2:15. We are no longer driven by the standards of sin. No longer afraid to die.

We must now read Verse 3 of Romans 8.

"It is impossible to do what God’s standards demand because of the weakness our human nature has. But God sent his Son to have a human nature as sinners have and to pay for sin. That way God condemned sin in our corrupt nature (GW)."

We trip over the phrase "to pay for" and make inaccurate statements. "Jesus paid for sin" is common church doctrine. But what does that mean?

I can tell you what it does not mean. IT IS NOT MONETARY. God doesn't owe anyone money. He can literally make it out of nothing. The story of the coin in the fish's mouth comes to mind (Matthew 17:27). And I'll bet He also made the fish. (Just pause and think of that.)

God did not have to pay TO RETRIEVE AUTHORITY either. This is said incorrectly of Adam's fall a lot. The devil's words at Jesus' temptation are used as proof. It is said that Adam sinned and gave Satan his authority. Then Satan offered it to Jesus. THIS IS SO VERY WRONG! Why? Because Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). He cannot and will not tell the Truth. There is no Truth in him (John 8:44).

You must capture this. It will set you free of so much wrong thinking. We do not have to fight a judged foe (John 16:11). Jesus is Truth which sets us free of all lies (John 8:32). We can know, in that moment, when Satan tried to tempt Him with a lie, Jesus wasn't fooled. God gave man dominion on this earth, AND IT COULD NOT EVER BE STOLEN. Jesus knew who He was. He knew man. And here's the Truth — Satan and fallen angels (devils) have no right to be here. They are thieves (John 10:10).

So, returning to our initial thought, what price did Jesus pay? If it wasn't monetary, if it wasn't to get dominion ... JESUS WAS NEVER BENEATH SATAN IN AUTHORITY ... then what was it? It was AN ACT OF WILL.

Old Covenant Law required the sacrifice of animals, but animals could never remove sin because they do not have a spirit man. Only mankind has a spirit man. So the spotless Lamb had to be human, and only God qualified. Jesus came and lived a sinless life, died a sinless death as the Son of God, and rose victorious in Spirit. Jesus gave His life in obedience, surrendering His will, what Adam failed to do, and overcame sin.

What does it mean that He “overcame sin”? That sin has no power anymore when we listen to God. The standard of sin and death no longer applies. The standard of life in God overflows within us.

“The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death. It is impossible to do what God’s standards demand because of the weakness our human nature has. But God sent his Son to have a human nature as sinners have and to pay for sin. That way God condemned sin in our corrupt nature. Therefore, we, who do not live by our corrupt nature but by our spiritual nature, are able to meet God’s standards in Moses’ Teachings.” (Romans 8:2-4, GW)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com