The Law of the Spirit
We know that the law is spiritual.
ROMANS 7:14
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The Law of the Spirit
God's commandment demands not only external conduct and appearances, but it also lays hold of the heart and demands its perfect obedience. Therefore, it also judges a person not only according to his external life and behavior but also according to his innermost heart. However, the world does not understand and pay attention to that, for it knows nothing more than public, external sins, such as murder, adultery, theft, and whatever the lawyers label as "sin" and rebuke. But it does not know and does not see the true problem and its root, such as despising God; the innate, inward impurity of the heart; disobedience toward God's will; etc. These things are and remain in all people who are not sanctified through Christ.
From the Church Postil, sermon for Eater 4 on John 16:5-15 (Luther's Works 77:229)
ROMANS 7:14
+
The Law of the Spirit
God's commandment demands not only external conduct and appearances, but it also lays hold of the heart and demands its perfect obedience. Therefore, it also judges a person not only according to his external life and behavior but also according to his innermost heart. However, the world does not understand and pay attention to that, for it knows nothing more than public, external sins, such as murder, adultery, theft, and whatever the lawyers label as "sin" and rebuke. But it does not know and does not see the true problem and its root, such as despising God; the innate, inward impurity of the heart; disobedience toward God's will; etc. These things are and remain in all people who are not sanctified through Christ.
From the Church Postil, sermon for Eater 4 on John 16:5-15 (Luther's Works 77:229)
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