Resurrection Life of Jesus Church

THE LAW OF DEATH
There is a spiritual law called the “Law of Death” that was set forth by God and given to Adam. It is part of the original laws given to Adam and applies to all human beings.

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

It is important to note that the Law of Death is separate and predates the laws given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Adam and Eve did not physically die on the day they sinned – but their spirits did! The curse of sin was subsequently passed on to each succeeding generation.

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.” (Romans 5:14)

The Law of Death comes into play the moment a baby is conceived.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, God the Father laid on Him the sin of Adam and Eve and the rest of humanity, past, present and future. Jesus became subject to the Law of Death and His physical body died. John 19:28-42

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13)

When a person is born again, he is redeemed from the curse of the Law of Death.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:4-7)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

UNDER THE LAW
When the New Testament says we are no longer “under the law,” it is referring to the Law of Death. When Paul spoke of establishing the law, he was speaking about the Mosaic law.

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” (Romans 3:31)

The Law of Death condemns people to eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire.

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15)

The law given to Moses instructed the Israelites how to worship God, how to treat others, how to offer sacrifices, what to eat, and how to maintain proper hygiene. With the exception of the sacrificial laws which would be fulfilled on the cross, Jesus confirmed the rest of the laws as still valid.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)

The Law of Death cannot be modified by mankind. It is a grim reality that will be carried out by God at the end of times. Keeping the Ten Commandments and doing good deeds won’t remove the Law of Death; only Jesus can commute the death sentence.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:1-10)

FREE FROM THE LAW
The Law of Death kept everyone under a death sentence until Jesus came and made it possible for mankind to have it removed.

“But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:15-21)

Even though we are living under grace, Christians must cease and desist in their breaking of God’s commandments.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2)

WHAT IS THE ATONEMENT?
Paul exhorted the Christians in Rome to rejoice in the atonement provided by Jesus on the cross.

“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Romans 5:11)

The word “atonement” means “reparation for a wrong or injury.” The theological definition of atonement is the “reconciliation of God and the human race through the death of Jesus on the cross and His subsequent resurrection.”

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they brought the curse of sin upon their offspring.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12)

Sin was present before God gave His law to Moses.

“For until the law sin was in the world…” (Romans 5:13a)

Guilt cannot be assigned if there is no law. There was no law as to how animals should conduct themselves and therefore they are without sin.

“But sin is not imputed when there is no law.” (Romans 5:13b)

THE FIRST LAW
The first laws were given to Adam and Eve.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. (Genesis 1:26-30)

1. They were to be fruitful, and by having children, repopulate the earth.

2. They were to subdue the earth. They were to acquire and use the resources God has deposited upon the earth and develop civilizations so that mankind cand live and work in harmony.

3. They were to exercise dominion over nature and make sure the environment of the animals, birds, and fish was not damaged.

4. They were to be vegetarians.

5. They were not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

It is easy to see that humanity has always been under the laws of God!

REVISION OF THE FIRST LAWS
The first revision of the law came into existence 1,676 years after the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden when the mandatory vegetarian diet was rescinded.

“And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.” (Genesis 9:2-3)

God banned the consumption of blood.

“But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” (Genesis 9:4)

Any person who commits murder is to be executed, and any animal that kills a human being is also condemned to death.

“And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.

Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Genesis 9:5-6)