the law of the Spirit of life

The law of the Spirit here is the power of grace. Paul terms it a law to compare its power to to that of another law - the law of sin and death. Both are laws, both are dynamics, but one law is able to supercede the other. Just as the law of aerodynamics supercedes the law of gravity, so the law of the Holy Spirit supercedes the law of sin and death. Supercession, in this case, means to liberate from, to overpower, to triumph over. Sin (or gravity, for example) shall not have dominion over you, because you are no longer under the law (under the influence of gravity) but under grace (under the law of aerodynamics).

When we walk in the Spirit, we are able to overcome the lusts of the flesh. Here we see one law, or power, overcoming another. It's like being in an airplane, soaring at 35,000 feet. By virtue of you being [i]in[/i] the airplane, you are also at 35,000 feet, and as long as you remain in the aircraft you are subject to a law that conquers the law of gravity. Step [i]out[/i] of the airplane, and you place yourself once again under the law of gravity.

Hope this helps. Compare Romams 6:14 with Romans 8:13, and then compare them both with Gal. 5:16-18.

Law, as it is used in this sense; refers to
government. When the Spirit of God governs
your life; you are free from the power of sin!!

Psalm 17
4 \tConcerning the works of men,
\tBy the word of Your lips,
\tI have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

This testimony is representative of the law of the Spirit of Life at work.

In Christ
Jeff

Well said, Paul!

Here's something from Poul Madsen on the subject that you might find helpful...
This is what lies behind Paul's expression: "the law of the Spirit of life" (v.2). From his own experience, he speaks of your standing in a court of law opposed by an accuser (sin) which has all the arguments on its side and, being unable to offer a defence, you await with horror the apparently inevitable death sentence. Then Christ steps forward and presents your case. You are acquitted, indeed you are fully justified, and you are led out of the court not to be executed but to live -- you are "justified unto life" (5:18). It is like being led from hell to heaven, from despair to joy, from darkness to the light of a new life. This new life is filled by the Spirit of God which means that it is now ruled by a new law, a new power, which is the direct opposite of the old law of sin and death. So in this context it is obvious that when he uses the word "law" Paul does not refer to a code of regulations but to a new principle of life which applies spontaneously.

In accord with this, his words in verse 4 about God condemning sin in the flesh, do not speak of the ordinance of the law being fulfilled by us, but rather in us "who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit". Note the evangelical form of the words! He does not write that the demand of the law is fulfilled by us if we do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Such a statement would cast man back upon himself and disturb him with doubts and fears. The evangelical fact is that we no longer live after the flesh (v.9. See also 7:5), and therefore, thanks to the work of Christ for us, we do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit. This method of expression avoids turning the reader in upon himself and makes him glad and confident as he walks in simple faith and confidence in the Lord. Everything from beginning to end is the work of God for him in Christ Jesus. That is the gospel!

-from [i]Chapter by Chapter Through Romans[/i] by Poul Madsen
In Christ,

Ron

This is another testimony given to us as an example of living according to the law of the Spirit...

Jer. 7:23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’

In Christ
Jeff

So how does a person eneter in to this law to actually it in reality?

Psalm 32:
3 \tWhen I kept silent, my bones grew old
\tThrough my groaning all the day long.
4 \tFor day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
\tMy vitality was turned into the drought of summer.

God's Holy Spirit was heavy upon this man's life...

Then....

5 \tI acknowledged my sin to You,
\tAnd my iniquity I have not hidden.
\tI said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
\tAnd You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

This same precept is found in Job 33:

15 \tIn a dream, in a vision of the night,
\tWhen deep sleep falls upon men,
\tWhile slumbering on their beds,
16 \tThen He opens the ears of men,
\tAnd seals their instruction.
17 \tIn order to turn man from his deed,
\tAnd conceal pride from man,
18 \tHe keeps back his soul from the Pit,
\tAnd his life from perishing by the sword.
19 \t“Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,
\tAnd with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 \tSo that his life abhors bread,
\tAnd his soul succulent food.
21 \tHis flesh wastes away from sight,
\tAnd his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22 \tYes, his soul draws near the Pit,
\tAnd his life to the executioners.

The result of God's working through His Holy Spirit brings this to those ....

24 \tThen He is gracious to him, and says,
\t“Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
\tI have found a ransom’;
25 \tHis flesh shall be young like a child’s,
\tHe shall return to the days of his youth.
26 \tHe shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
\tHe shall see His face with joy,
\tFor He restores to man His righteousness.
27 \tThen he looks at men and says,
\t“I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
\tAnd it did not profit me.’
28 \tHe will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit,
\tAnd his life shall see the light.
29 \t“Behold, God works all these things,
\tTwice, in fact, three times with a man,
30 \tTo bring back his soul from the Pit,
\tThat he may be enlightened with the light of life.

There is therefore no condemnation for those who are "enlightened with the light of life."

In Christ
Jeff

Pro 2:1 ¶ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;

Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding;

Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures;

Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding.

Pro 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: [he is] a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; [yea], every good path.

Pro 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

Pro 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

When Solomon asked for wisdom, by what means did God convey His wisdom to Solomon?

This is the means by which all can know God and be delivered from condemnation. This is the law of the Spirit which gives us the light of life.

In Christ
Jeff

Reply to PaulWest

Yes, thanks indeed.

Revelation 21

1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Eddie

Pro 8:1 ¶ Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

Pro 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

Pro 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

Pro 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.

Pro 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Pro 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.

Pro 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.

Pro 8:8 All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.

Pro 8:9 They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

Pro 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Pro 8:11 For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Pro 8:12 ¶ I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Pro 8:14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.

In this section of Scripture we are again given the exhortation to,"Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things."

The law of the Spirit is centered in this promise..."for I will speak..."

How else can man escape the bindings of Satan?

In Christ
jeff

Quote:
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So how does a person eneter in to this law to actually it in reality?
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Psalm 32:
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.

There's no hope for us, however, without considering the first two verses of this Psalm:

Psalm 32
1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Blessed are those who are forgiven and imputed with Christ's righteousness, seemingly "prophesied" here. David and Job hadn't have what we have. David and Job walked by faith or by the aid of the [i]external[/i] Holy Spirit?

I really appreciate this thread and have always wanted to learn more of it, not so much so from writings or sermons, perhaps from brethren's real experiences or applications of this "walk" in the spirit in their lives.

Margaret

Well I know that I do not even have any 2's. I really do not even have any cards. I have nothing and I always will have nothing.

But we do have more than we will ever need. we have Christ! By our faith in Christ, and obedience to His Word, we are [i]obeying[/i] the law of the Spirit of life.

The law of Spirit of life, is law perhaps in a sense that it must be obeyed in order for the child of God to produce It's beautiful fruit. While the law of sin and death, when obeyed, produces death and corruption.

We all know that the Bible is full of instructions of how to walk in this Spirit. I guess I was hoping to be reading some brothers/sisters' testimonies in such a walk suggested on my last post.

On SI, we read so much of our confessions of failures and sins, on the other hand, of all kinds of ministries of this or that sort..I thought that if we can share our testimonies in how we walk in the Spirit, however insignificant the walks might seem to be, could perhaps bring a bit glory to God, encouragement and joy to each other. Surely we can never "impress" God with anything but our precious Christ, or do we look to impress each other with anything, but to share how God's grace and mercy help us with our walk can be exhorting us towards God a bit?
Oh well, just a thought.

Margaret

Sister Margaret wrote:

There's no hope for us, however, without considering the first two verses of this Psalm:

I believe the writer of this Psalm was actually testifying of how blessed it is to know that one's sins are not imputed and "in whose spirit is no deceit."

The writer testifies how the Lord brought him to his knees. The writer testifies about what he discovered when he finally repented and cried out to God. The only way this occurs according to Scripture, is by the power of the Holy Spirit.

All Scripture declares His way...the ancient path...

Paul exhorts the Ephesians...

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

The sword of the Spirit is the word of God...and therefore it is the means by which God has determined that we can know the path of life. Only by feeding on the word and hearing what it is saying to our hearts do we begin to recognize His voice. The OT Scriptures reveal how the Holy Spirit changes man....

In Christ
Jeff

From: "The Normal Christian Life"

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

Why is there no more condemnation? “For ...”: there is a reason for it; there is something definite to account for it. The reason is that there is a law called “the law of the Spirit of life” and it has proved stronger than another law called ‘the law of sin and death”. What are these laws? How do they operate? And what is the difference between sin and the law of sin, and between death and the law of death?

First let us ask ourselves, What is a law? Well, strictly speaking, a law is a generalization examined until it is proved that there is no exception. We might define it more simply as something which happens over and over again. Each time the thing happens it happens in the same way. We can illustrate this both from statutory and from natural law. For example, in this land, if I drive a car on the right hand side of the road the traffic police will stop me. Why? Because it is against the law of the land. If you do it you will be stopped too. Why? For the same reason that I would be stopped: it is against the law and the law makes no exceptions. It is something which happens repeatedly and unfailingly. Or again, we all know what is meant by gravity. If I drop my handkerchief in London it falls to the ground. That is the effect of gravity. But the same is true if I drop it in New York or Hong Kong. No matter where I let it go, gravity operates, and it always produces the same results. Whenever the same conditions prevail the same effects are seen. There is thus a ‘law’ of gravity.

Now what of the law of sin and death? If someone passes an unkind remark about me, at once something goes wrong inside me. That is not law; that is sin. But it, when different people pass unkind remarks, the same ‘something’ goes wrong inside, then I discern a law within—a law of sin. Like the law of gravity, it is something constant. It always works the same way. And so too with the law of death. Death, we have said, is weakness produced to its limit. Weakness is ‘I cannot’. Now if when I try to please God in this particular matter I find I cannot, and if when I try to please Him in that other thing I again find I cannot, then I discern a law at work. There is not only sin in me but a law of sin; there is not only death in me but a law of death.

Then again, not only is gravity a law in the sense that it is constant, admitting of no exception, but, unlike the rule of the road, it is a ‘natural’ law and not the subject of discussion and decision but of discovery. The law is there, and the handkerchief ‘naturally’ drops by itself without any help from me. And the “law” discovered by the man in Romans 7:23 is just like that. It is a law of sin and of death, opposed to that which is good, and crippling the man’s will to do good. He ‘naturally’ sins according to the “law of sin” in his members. He wills to be different, but that law in him is relentless and no human will can resist it. So this brings me to the question, How can I be set free from the law of sin an death? I need deliverance from sin, and still more do I need deliverance from death, but most of all I need deliverance from the law of sin and of death. How can I be delivered from the constant repetition of weakness and failure? In order to answer this question let us follow out our two illustration further.

One of our great burdens in China used to be the likin tax, a law which none could escape, originating in the Ch’in Dynasty and operating right down to our own day. It was an inland tax on the transit of goods, applied throughout the empire and having numerous barriers for collection, and officers enjoying very large powers. The result was that the charge on goods passing through several provinces might become very heavy indeed. But a few years ago a second law came into operation which set aside the likin law. Can you imagine the feelings of relief in those who had suffered under the old law? Now there was no need to think or hope or pray; the new law was already there and had delivered us from the old law. No longer was there need to think beforehand what one would say if one met a likin officer tomorrow!

And as with the law of the land, so it is with natural law. How can the law of gravity be annulled? With regard to my handkerchief that law is at work clearly enough, pulling it down, but I have only to place my hand under the handkerchief and it does not drop. Why? The law is still there. I do not deal with the law of gravity; in fact I cannot deal with the law of gravity. Then why does my handkerchief not fall to the ground? Because there is a power keeping it from doing so. The law is there, but another law superior to it is operation to overcome it, namely the law of life. Gravity can do its utmost but the handkerchief will not drop, because another law is working against the law of gravity to maintain it there. We have all seen the tree which was once a small seed fallen between the slabs of a paving, and which has grown until heavy stone blocks have been lifted by the power of the life within it. That is what we mean by the triumph of one law over another.

In just such a manner God delivers us from one law by introducing another law. The law of sin and death is there all the time, but God has put another law into operation - the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and that law is strong enough to deliver us from the law of sin and death. You see, it is a law of life in Christ Jesus—the resurrection life that in Him has met death in all its forms and triumphed over it (Eph. 1:19, 20). The Lord Jesus dwells in our hearts in the person of His Holy Spirit, and if we let Him have a clear way and commit ourselves to Him we shall find that He will keep us from the old law. We shall learn what it is to be kept, not by our own power, but “by the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5).

Brother Mike wrote:

Weakness is ‘I cannot’. Now if when I try to please God in this particular matter I find I cannot, and if when I try to please Him in that other thing I again find I cannot, then I discern a law at work. There is not only sin in me but a law of sin; there is not only death in me but a law of death.

This is true...

Therefore God must make a provision which "enables" us to please Him...

The writer of Psalm 119 also recognized this so therefore he prays to God to enable him to overcome the law of sin and death...

ie...

Psa 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Psa 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

Psa 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

These are just a few examples of the law of the Spirit which enables this man to please God...

In Christ
Jeff

Tremendous message (by George H. Warnock) on the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus here on SI at https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=1913

I have been studying these very Scriptures and wanted to share what the Lord helped me understand about these things:

In John 5, Jesus healed the man at the Pool of Siloam who'd been sick for 38 years. Because He did this on the Sabbath day, the religious crowd were all upset and accusing Him of breaking the law. They sought to kill Him because He was yielding His vessel to the Father who lived in Him and the Father wanted this man healed. He said the works He did, it was the Father in Him doing them. He admits He can do nothing of Himself, but it is the Father (Joh_5:19). But they don't understand, or want to hear. They know the letter that kills with religion, but not the Spirit that gives the letter life. They won't hear and He says you investigate and examine the Scriptures, because you think by reading the Scriptures you get eternal life. Doesn't James tell us in his writing it's not the hearer that is justified, but the doer of the Word?? And didn't Jesus say in Luke 6 the one who heard His sayings and did them was the one who built on the rock and when the storm rose his house (himself) would stand and not fall into ruin? He says you search the Scriptures, because you think doing so gives you eternal life and they written to point you to Me but you won't come to Me that you might possess My life. The only real life is His. When we are connected (abiding in Him) to Him, through having our own personal relationship with HIM, we are plugged into the Life Source. If we come to Him to learn of and from HIM and we are willing to lay aside our traditions received of men, and be taught, we will behold Him and in beholding HIM, coming to understand Him, and know Him ourselves, we are then changed from our image into HIS. (2Co_3:18) This is another work of the Holy Spirit-to reveal to the hungry heart who Christ is. How can we be like One we do not know? It's impossible.

He says in Joh_6:53 if we don't eat His Word (which was made flesh) and drink of His blood, (the Holy Spirit) we have no life in us. That tells me reading the Word alone is not enough. I must have the Holy Spirit in me, living the life of Jesus Christ and empowering me to overcome the self I was born into. Consider this: The Word was with the Father from the beginning. He was able to move freely and be everywhere anytime, and was without limits or boundaries, as is the Holy Spirit, today. He submitted to a cage-flesh, for 33 1/2 years. Our spirits are eternal and they are caged by corrupt and unreliable flesh which is driven by destructive impulses and behaviors. The Word and the Spirit work together to free us from these. The law of the Spirit is CHRIST'S Life in us which makes us free.

He said you shall know the Truth (which is the Word which was made flesh-Jesus Christ) and ye shall be FREE. Whom the SON makes free is free indeed! So what if we are born again and we read our Bibles but we still struggle with carnality and flesh? All I know is if the Word says the law of the Spirit of life (Rom 8:2) which is Christ's life which makes us free from the earthly things of this world that would keep us in bondage to this world and its ways, then that is what it means. If that is not my experience yet (and it's not, but I'm seeing it in the Word, He is showing me things to come as I dig in these Scriptures) then I must LOOK UNTO JESUS in total dependence on Him to finish this work in my life, and be willing to lay down anything I have to so I can have more of the Holy Spirit and less of self. I must decrease so He can increase in me. The more I make room for HIM by rejecting and denying the things in my self life that hinder Him, the more He will come until I am filled. As He lives in me, He teaches me how to walk in the Spirit, like I taught my children how to stand on their feet and walk when they were babies.

As He begins His prayer, John 17:3, He says this is eternal life that they may KNOW THEE, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent. Consider what it means to know Him. It is possible to know all about Him from reading this Bible, but never meet Him personally. This word in the Greek is ginosko and it means to know absolutely, with certainty, through experience and intimacy, as a husband knows his wife. Through this knowing, this intimacy, they understand and are sure of each other. This is not a head knowledge. Jesus Christ is telling us in John 17:3 that eternal life is intimate relationship with the Father, and the Son, through the Holy Spirit. It's spending time with Him, in His Word, in His presence, praying about what you read in this Book, bringing it to Him and asking for understanding. Not for religion's sake but because you just want to know HIM because the more you know the more you will love Him and you won't dare want to grieve or bring reproach on Him by misrepresenting HIM. You will learn what it means when Psalms 16:11 tells you "He will show us the path (way) of life; In His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore." Spend time with Him, you get direction, understanding, strength, peace, joy, rest, hope, life. HE IS your life. HE IS everything. HE is our source. We are just empty vessels unless we stay connected to HIM.

YES, it is a struggle. The world, the flesh and the devil will all work together to distract and keep us from prayer, communion with HIM, and the Word which is our meat-our daily bread. You know, He said communion was eating the Bread of life, and drinking the wine of the Holy Spirit. We can do that privately as well as corporately in remembrance and in fellowship with Him. He fed communion or the last supper to the disciples. He fed them the passover lamb-and HE is our Passover Lamb. His Word is what He wants to feed us and He wants us to be willing to get over and let go of ourselves so He can give us rivers of living waters-that precious HOLY GHOST who is the almighty power of Almighty GOD working in us to bring us to a place where we are willing to be separated from any and everything BUT HIM. (Php_2:13)

His life being lived out by the power of the Spirit in us, heals us and makes us whole. (Rom_5:10). There's no penalty, no sentence of damnation to those who have taken their fixed position in Jesus Christ-by agreeing to the destruction of their self-will and embracing HIS will. They don't follow the demands of their minds or their selfish desires any longer. They have seen and known HIM and now they are learning how to walk IN Him. The law of the Holy Spirit of Christ who lives in me liberates me and delivers me from everything that would destroy me. (Rom_8:1-2) Every destructive thought, behavior, addiction, He cuts me loose from these things because He empowers me to yield all I am to Him. When you embrace LIFE you reject death. You can't serve yourself and the Lord, too. It's one or the other.