For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but the spirit.1
This word for righteous requirement is dikaióma, it means a thing pronounced to be just, righteous. It is derived from dikaioó which means approved, especially in a legal, authoritative sense; to show what is right, i.e. conformed to a proper standard. The believer is made right, Justified, by God, he is cleared of all charges and its related punishment. Sealed with the spirit of God as a guarantee of the inheritance, he is made a joint heir with Christ, a son of God. The righteous requirements of God were met by Jesus Christ. If I go back to the law for this justification, I sever myself from Christ, as He alone has satisfied the righteous requirement of the law. Though he was in the beginning with God and was God, He became a man and walked among us, he was in the likeness of sinful flesh, but did not sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, giving us this power, to walk according to the Spirit.
Walking in the Spirit is a matter of obedience but not from an external perspective of obeying the law but from an internal obedience to the Spirit who indwells the believer. The Holy Spirit doesn't speak of His own accord but teaches, reveals, puts on our minds, and writes on our hearts, the words of the Father. This was prophesied of, this new covenant of Grace, this mystery of Christ. Paul was a steward or chief administrator of this new covenant, this gospel, this mystery of Christ, this good news which is the revelation that the Gentiles are an heir, united in the same body, and a joint partaker in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.9 This good news of Grace, in which by faith I receive, fulfills the righteous requirement of the law. Through this Amazing Grace God reaches down, to the worst of sinners, and fulfills the requirement for righteousness within, something the law could never do, as it was weak in the flesh. This is called Justification.
An understanding of this Grace motivates me to work out my salvation, to be righteous in the eyes of my Father, it is not out of condemnation nor of fear, for such was of the old and not a good motivator of people. His Grace is one of unconditional love. Some people would say we can not teach such Grace, the people might sin they say as if they are the righteous judge, but I say they do not understand Grace. Every believer should experience this Liberty in Christ Jesus. Yes, I can sin and He still loves me unconditionally! but I do not want to sin, of my own free will which is motivated by love for my heavenly Father, and by the truth and spirit within. Such is the power of the Gospel. And such fulfills the Righteous Requirement of the law. This is the mystery of the Gospel, foolishness to some, a stumbling block for others.
John mentions three stages of maturity; babe, young man, and father. As a babe John writes their sins are forgiven, that is it. So what does this mean? We know that Christ forgave all sins on the cross, when I hear such good news and through faith believed, I was saved, sins forgiven. This is most important in building my identity in Christ. I liken it to an adoption, the most important thing this child can experience is acceptance into this new family, his identity is reinforced understanding what it means to be a child of the father. He will feel like this is his home, a powerful assurance that God gives us as his children. Through this trusting relationship that has developed through the unconditional love of Christ, the child through love and respect of the father will want to be like the father. Justification leads to Sanctification, or my working out this salvation in my Spirit by the transformation, the renewing of my mind. It is so simple it escapes us. But such love requires dependence upon God.
The heavenly Father has adopted me into His family, He chose me and lavished his unmerited favor upon me, he loves me unconditionally. His covenant with me is everlasting, even He will not go back on His promises, on His word. As a guarantee He has given me His Spirit, this comforter, helper, and teacher who lives within, a seal of the guarantee of my inheritance. Such is good news as I could not meet the righteous requirement of the law, no one but Jesus has ever made that mark, we have all fallen short, like filthy rags is our own righteousness. This is true as a believer, anything I do not of Faith and Love, is filthy rags, this is anything I do in the flesh and not in the Spirit. Jesus met the righteous requirement for me, because of such love I want to walk as He walked, according to the spirit. He fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law so we too might walk in the Spirit, condemning sin in the flesh.
Flawless
This word for righteous requirement is dikaióma, it means a thing pronounced to be just, righteous. It is derived from dikaioó which means approved, especially in a legal, authoritative sense; to show what is right, i.e. conformed to a proper standard. The believer is made right, Justified, by God, he is cleared of all charges and its related punishment. Sealed with the spirit of God as a guarantee of the inheritance, he is made a joint heir with Christ, a son of God. The righteous requirements of God were met by Jesus Christ. If I go back to the law for this justification, I sever myself from Christ, as He alone has satisfied the righteous requirement of the law. Though he was in the beginning with God and was God, He became a man and walked among us, he was in the likeness of sinful flesh, but did not sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, giving us this power, to walk according to the Spirit.
Walking in the Spirit is a matter of obedience but not from an external perspective of obeying the law but from an internal obedience to the Spirit who indwells the believer. The Holy Spirit doesn't speak of His own accord but teaches, reveals, puts on our minds, and writes on our hearts, the words of the Father. This was prophesied of, this new covenant of Grace, this mystery of Christ. Paul was a steward or chief administrator of this new covenant, this gospel, this mystery of Christ, this good news which is the revelation that the Gentiles are an heir, united in the same body, and a joint partaker in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.9 This good news of Grace, in which by faith I receive, fulfills the righteous requirement of the law. Through this Amazing Grace God reaches down, to the worst of sinners, and fulfills the requirement for righteousness within, something the law could never do, as it was weak in the flesh. This is called Justification.
An understanding of this Grace motivates me to work out my salvation, to be righteous in the eyes of my Father, it is not out of condemnation nor of fear, for such was of the old and not a good motivator of people. His Grace is one of unconditional love. Some people would say we can not teach such Grace, the people might sin they say as if they are the righteous judge, but I say they do not understand Grace. Every believer should experience this Liberty in Christ Jesus. Yes, I can sin and He still loves me unconditionally! but I do not want to sin, of my own free will which is motivated by love for my heavenly Father, and by the truth and spirit within. Such is the power of the Gospel. And such fulfills the Righteous Requirement of the law. This is the mystery of the Gospel, foolishness to some, a stumbling block for others.
John mentions three stages of maturity; babe, young man, and father. As a babe John writes their sins are forgiven, that is it. So what does this mean? We know that Christ forgave all sins on the cross, when I hear such good news and through faith believed, I was saved, sins forgiven. This is most important in building my identity in Christ. I liken it to an adoption, the most important thing this child can experience is acceptance into this new family, his identity is reinforced understanding what it means to be a child of the father. He will feel like this is his home, a powerful assurance that God gives us as his children. Through this trusting relationship that has developed through the unconditional love of Christ, the child through love and respect of the father will want to be like the father. Justification leads to Sanctification, or my working out this salvation in my Spirit by the transformation, the renewing of my mind. It is so simple it escapes us. But such love requires dependence upon God.
The heavenly Father has adopted me into His family, He chose me and lavished his unmerited favor upon me, he loves me unconditionally. His covenant with me is everlasting, even He will not go back on His promises, on His word. As a guarantee He has given me His Spirit, this comforter, helper, and teacher who lives within, a seal of the guarantee of my inheritance. Such is good news as I could not meet the righteous requirement of the law, no one but Jesus has ever made that mark, we have all fallen short, like filthy rags is our own righteousness. This is true as a believer, anything I do not of Faith and Love, is filthy rags, this is anything I do in the flesh and not in the Spirit. Jesus met the righteous requirement for me, because of such love I want to walk as He walked, according to the spirit. He fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law so we too might walk in the Spirit, condemning sin in the flesh.
Flawless