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

The law of the Spirit, is the commandment to believe in Christ, for through faith a person takes possession of the Spirit of promise, in the form of the earnest of the inheritance. Observance of the law of the Spirit, is to follow, obey, and conform to the guidance of the Spirit, not grieving or quenching it. Looking forward to Romans 8:5,  it is to think like the Spirit, always attentive to the things of God.

To believe, our faith must include the observance of the law, or else our faith is dead, worthless, and unfruitful. Yet, by our faith, we are freed from the law. This is true, because faith is not produced, through the observance of the law, but rather, the law is observed through faith. The works of the law are burdensome, when performing them in order to obtain a reward. But, if we have confidence that we have already obtained the greatest reward, and observe the law out of love, respect, honor, and gratitude, then the law is obeserved without effort or desire, and the burden is almost nonexistant (Matthew 11:30). And for doing that which seems to be effortless, God is faithful to reward.

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The regenerate, who have turned to righteousness and have received the Holy Ghost of promise, are no longer under the condemnation, in which they find themselves, when attempting to observe the law to gain righteousness, as described in Galatians 3:10. This is the state which Paul describes in the later part of chapter 7.

Here Paul describes those who have been freed from the law, by converting to righteousness and following after the Spirit.

I have listened to many preachers who preach awesome sermons on the latter part of Romans 7, but then turn elsewhere for the answer to Pauls dilemma. When that happens, it becomes obvious that they do not properly understand Romans 8.

Condemnation - to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; to pronounce to be guilty; to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service.

Are these not descriptive of what Paul described in Romans 7? Was he not passing judgment upon himself, based upon his own ability to fulfill the law? Was he not determining his own guilt, when he desired to do good, but saw that he could only do that which was evil? Did he not profess to have been brought into the captivity of the law of sin, which was in his members?

He saw himself to be a wretched man. And the only way a person can be free from such a wretched man, is through the power of the Holy Ghost. This is only possible, through the gift of the promise of the Holy Ghost, provided by inheritance (Ephesians 1:11) to each regenerate man, but possessed (Ephesians 1:14) only through faith and conversion.

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Christ only dwells in our hearts through faith (John 14:18, John 14:20, John 14:21). Faith, without works is dead, or rather worthless. A persons is not saved by merely understanding, or being persuaded, that Jesus is the Christ. As Jesus sets forth in John 14, a person must love Him and must keep His commandments. If a person looses faith, turns back to the world, our returns to disobedience, Christ will not continue to dwell in such filth.

Ephesians 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

The love of God is so huge. It is far reaching and towers over us. It is far greater than anything we will ever be able to fully comprehend in this mortal life. But, to even begin to comprehend it, we must be given the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38), which reveals these great truths to us (1 Corinthians 2:10, John 14:26, Hebrews 6:4).

There are four aspects to Gods love for His chosen people. It has length, width, and depth, which are obvious measurements of obejcts of mass, that we use every day. The fourth apsect is also a measurement of every day objects. That measurement is endurance, or how long it will last. This apsect of Gods love, like the other three aspects, is also beyond our ability to fully comprehend in this life.

Even though, it is by the gift of the Holy Ghost, that we are able to know the things of God, we are limited in our knowledge, by our ability to comprehend what the Spirit reveals to us. We must be open to the teachings of the Holy Ghost, and at the same time gaurd ourselves against imaginations of the carnal mind.

Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Even though God allows mans free will to make the choice to convert and believe in Christ Jesus, He must still grant you that privilege. But, do not use this as an excuse as to why you fail to do so, for He is faithful to grant the priviledge according to His promise, and the power to overcome and tear down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4, Nahum 3:12).

Pray for yourself, as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, "to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man".

Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel placed their faith in God, but because they had God in the world in a physical form, which they could witness, and because they had the Holy Spirit, within the inner sanctuary, they did not receive the Holy Ghost which is given under the New Testament by faith in Christ. Although, a few chosen Kings and Prophets did recieve it, it was not generally given (John 7:39) to the regenerate children of God, whether Jew or Gentile. This is why the Gentiles of the Old Testament were without God in the world and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope.

Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

The "election of grace" is not the same as the election of God, which was before the foundations of the world. The context of this passage suggests an election by obedience. Recently, it occurred to me what Paul was actually saying.

In verses 14 – 16, Paul comments that there is a possibility of this group being provoked into becoming a part of this remnant, a sure sign this election take place in the present. In verse 16, he indicates that they are Holy, being part of the same lump as the firstfruit, partaking of the root. He describes them as the branches which were removed, which once were partakers of the same root that this remnant now partakes. Therefore, this is a choosing, or an act of picking out, performed by grace.

How does grace pick and chose?

It chooses those who are able to humble themselves and believe the gospel. It chooses those who seek for deliverance. Of such a people, Jesus spoke in Matthew 5 when He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." and so on. The gospel is not for the rich, for it is a very difficult thing for them. It is for those who see themselves in need of a physician. For this reason only a remnant will be saved presently.

1 Corinthians 1:21 & 27 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe… But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

I found the following in the "A Welsh Succession of Primitive Baptist Faith and Practice".


"There has been all along the blood-tinged ages of martyrdom an uninterrupted preservation of the primitive creed and ritual of the church of the Pentecost, so signally inaugurated in the upper room in Jerusalem. There is no missing link in this celestial chain from age to age of the remnant according to the election of grace."

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new kind of person, he is uncommon, his behavior has changed, he is established upon a firm foundation, his priorities have changed, he no longer lives for himself, but for Christ, the old man being subdued; observe, many things about him are different. (Personal Translation)

Therefore, if a man has converted to Christ, he is a new person. He will be different than he was before having noticeable changes in his character. He will be established, unlike before, desiring to be a good and faithful servant. When a person is regenerated, he does not immediately manifest the internal change that occurs during regeneration. The person is not even aware of this change until the new man begins to war against the old man. It is not until the person chooses to convert from his sinful ways and live his life in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that he is considered to be a new creature. If the person has truly converted, he has put away that which was of the natural and has taken hold of the new which is spiritual (John 3:6). He has begun subduing the old man and its control over him, allowing the new to take the lead. He has become a new person, and according to scripture, has set himself apart from those of unrighteousness, is consider to be a peculiar type of person, and a member of the royal priesthood of God.

Related passages:
John 3:6
Ephesians 4:22
Exodus 19:5
Deuteronomy 14:2
Titus 2:14
1 Peter 2:9

2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.

For that reason, from this point forward, we cannot differentiate the regenerate from the rest, when they live according to their carnal nature: nevertheless, we can distinguish Christ according to ones behavior, yet from now on we cannot distinguish Christ any further. (Personal Translation)

Because the regenerate can be in either of these two conditions - unconverted or converted, it is impossible to know if a person is regenerated by observing his behavior, if he has not yet converted to living for Christ. He may not exhibit any characteristics, or he may only exhibit a few characteristics, that could be discerned as one converted. Therefore we can only know that a person is regenerate when he manifests Christ like characteristics, and not by any other means.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

And [that] he died for all, that they which live (Greek "zao" meaning "are efficacious" – they which have the capacity to live) should not henceforth live (manner of life) unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.


And because He died for all his people, those which are efficacious (have the capacity to live) should not hereafter continue a manner of life which is for their own purpose, but instead for the purpose of him which died for them, and rose again. (Personal Translation)
 
When a person is regenerated he is given the capacity to comprehend spiritual things. In this passage, Paul builds upon that truth, teaching that this type of person should not continue living for himself, like he did before regeneration. Instead, the regenerate person should exercise this new capability to live his life in accordance with the purpose of Christ.
 
Related passages:
Colossians 1:12

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Christ suffered one time, a single act for all of whom He was the sacrificial offering, the righteous for the unrighteous; the innocent for the guilty. "Once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself". "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many", for if this were not true, then "must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world", each time a person believed and converted.


But Christ did not die for the believers, nor did He die only for those who have become children of God since His death. But instead, He died for all of God’s chosen, since the beginning of time unto the last day. Once for all He died, but not for all of mankind. He was "put to death in the flesh", so that "we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Yes, sanctified - to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin -through His death, one time forever more, and not through our faith! "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified". Then after three days in the grave, He was "quickened by the Spirit".

Three days separate His death from His resurrection. These are two different events, each one bearing its’ own significance and accomplishing different things. By His death, we have been purified and freed from the guilt of sin. By His resurrection, death has been swallowed up in victory, for under the Old Testament, death reigned. But now, "a new and living way" has been made possible. Also by His death, He tore down the veil that separated the first tabernacle from the second. Under the Old Testament "the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God". The priests, which were a shadow of the body of believers, accomplished the service of God, void of the Holy Spirit, "for the Holy Ghost was not yet given", "the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest". But of the New Testament, which was to come, Jesus "spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive". And now under the new covenant, by our faith, we enter into this "new and living way". For now, "after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory". "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh".

In the Old Testament, God dwelled among a chosen nation of His elect, in the Tabernacle made with hands.

Leviticus 26:3 & 11 "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them… I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you…"

Deuteronomy 4:30-31 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is] a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

In the New Testament, God dwells among the believers of His elect, in the tabernacle not made with hands – this is the Holy Spirit of promise.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"

The Regenerate - Converted Defined

Having obtained the inheritance of eternal life at regeneration (Ephesians 1:11), the converted take current possession (Matthew 19:16, John 3:15) of eternal life, by way of the earnest (Ephesians 1:14).

The converted receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38), the Comforter (John 14:16, John 14:26), the earnest of thier inheritance (Ephesians 1:14). And are partakers of the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5, Revelation 20:6).

They have escaped the condemnation of the carnal man (John 3:18), and have chosen to walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1), rather than fulfill the desires of the flesh (Ephesians 2:3). They have chosen to mind the things of the Spirit, rather than the desires of the flesh (Romans 8:5). Rather than remaining in the 2nd Death, they have been resurrected to life (Romans 6:4) through the Spirit (Romans 8:13).

Having been born of water, they have now also been born of the Spirit (John 3:5). Or, as John puts it in his first epistle, born of God (1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:18). This new birth of the Spirit is the indwelling of Christ within (John 14:17, John 14:20, John 14:23). The person has freely chosen to love the Lord, and to obey His commandments (John 14:21). By doing so, he has become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15). He has put away his former life of unrighteousness, for which the wages were death (Romans 6:23), and has yielded himself a servant of righteousness (Romans 6:16) unto obedeince unto God.

Having converted, being quickened by the Spirit (John 5:21, John 6:63, Romans 8:11, Ephesians 2:1), to walk after the Spirit, the person has ceased from sin (1 John 3:9, 1 John 5;18), and has found the victory to overcome the world (1 John 5:4).