May the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you and your household. I give thanks to the eternal God, the Almighty, for granting us this time to receive His word—a word that corrects, instructs, and guides us. We are living in prophetic times, the last days, not only because the Scriptures are being fulfilled but primarily because God is preparing His people, the chosen remnant, to be witnesses of His glory and power. It is not merely about becoming better Christians, as many in congregations strive for, but about fulfilling the purpose for which we were called by the Spirit of God. The Apostle Paul expresses this clearly in his letter to the Philippians: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). This is a glorious time the Lord has given us to fulfill our calling.
Today, we conclude the series of teachings on the old man, focusing on the law of sin and death. We turn to the biblical text in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 7, verses 14 to 25: “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:14-25).
In this passage, Paul mentions the “law of sin” twice, in verses 23 and 25, but in Romans 8:2, he names it fully: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). This is the central theme of our teaching: the law of sin and death. What is it, and why is it crucial to study?
To provide context, we have been exploring the concept of the old man, which Paul discusses in Ephesians 4:22: “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22). This topic is vital because many believers are unaware of the spiritual reality we face upon coming to Christ. Scripture says old things have passed away and all things are made new, but in the original language, 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Behold, old things are passing away, and all things are being made new”. This indicates an ongoing process, not a completed one. It began when we accepted Christ but will not conclude until we overcome the old man, destroy the body of sin, and understand the law of sin and death to which we are all subject.
The old man is the essence of what we have built over time: our habits, thoughts, and decisions. The body of sin includes all our past actions—thoughts, attitudes, postures, feelings, and what we have introduced into our bodies, such as medications, drugs, or substances. The law of sin and death is a satanic programming used by the kingdom of darkness to dictate the path each person walks on earth. This may sound harsh, but it is a spiritual truth. Humanity, by nature, is an active member of the kingdom of darkness due to original sin, as stated in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they obeyed Satan, becoming servants of the kingdom of darkness.
However, those who have accepted Christ have been delivered, as Colossians 1:13 declares: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). This transfer is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Yet, the old man, the body of sin, and the law of sin and death persist in us. The life of faith is a spiritual battle that begins by overcoming these elements. The law of sin and death manifests in three ways: as a generational curse, as a predetermined destiny, and as the influence of the world.
1. Generational Curse
The first manifestation of the law of sin and death is a generational curse affecting everyone without exception. This curse arises when the enemy takes what God established as a blessing and uses it against humanity. In spiritual warfare, this is known as a “legal right,” the authority the kingdom of darkness gains to operate in a person’s life and environment. A clear example is in Luke 4:5-6, where Satan tempts Jesus: “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it” (Luke 4:5-6). Who gave him that authority? Not God, but Adam and Eve, who, by disobeying, transferred their dominion over the earth to Satan, as seen in Genesis 2 and 3.
Romans 6:16 confirms: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). By obeying Satan, Adam and Eve became his servants, and everything God had given them was used by the enemy. Deuteronomy 28:15 warns of the consequences of disobedience: “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee” (Deuteronomy 28:15). These curses are not divine punishment but boundaries God set to protect humanity. Crossing them exposes us to the enemy’s attacks.
Genesis 3:16-19 describes the consequences of sin: “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:16-19). The curse comes not from God but from Satan, who uses God’s provisions to attack humanity. Exodus 20:5 notes that these curses reach the third and fourth generations: “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” (Exodus 20:5).
This generational curse is a consequence of transgressing God’s boundaries, granting the enemy legal rights to operate not only in an individual’s life but also in their descendants, regions, and nations. It is not merely punishment but a limit God set to keep us safe and free from the enemy’s schemes. John 10:10 clarifies the enemy’s intent: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
2. Predetermined Destiny
The second manifestation is as a predetermined destiny, an idea rooted in Greek philosophy, not Scripture. Many believe their life is fixed and unchangeable, as Paul describes in Romans 7:18-19: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Romans 7:18-19). Paul speaks not as a believer but as a human under this law, feeling trapped by an unchangeable destiny. Yet, John 3:8 declares: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Those born of the Spirit are not bound by a fixed destiny; God orders their steps.
Believers must reject declarations of a doomed destiny, such as “You’ll end up like your father or family.” Such statements reflect the law of sin and death, which we must break in Christ’s name, for God determines our path, not the enemy.
3. Influence of the World
The third manifestation is the influence of the world, a satanic system dragging people along. 1 John 2:15-17 warns: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15-17). Jesus prayed in John 17:15: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). The world is not society or the planet but a system of wickedness established by Satan, who gained authority from humanity, as seen in Luke 4:6.
This influence acts like a current, seducing and dragging people. Believers unknowingly grant legal rights to the enemy through practices like gambling, using significant dates (birthdays, anniversaries) for such activities, consecrating these moments to the kingdom of darkness. Past actions, even before knowing Christ, remain active until renounced before God. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 exhorts: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). We must not seek a place in the world, as it drags us into the law of sin and death.
Many congregations mistakenly seek to influence society, but it is the world that influences them, pulling them into its current. Paul warned Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:19 that some have shipwrecked their faith by following this law instead of God’s word.
Conclusion
The law of sin and death has no power over those in Christ, as Romans 8:2 declares. We must actively break its manifestations: generational curses, predetermined destinies, and worldly influences. Numbers 23:20 assures: “Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it” (Numbers 23:20). Satan cannot curse those under Christ’s lordship. Galatians 2:20 inspires: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Crucify the old man, destroy the body of sin, and render the law of sin and death inoperative. The Holy Spirit reminds us of past events not for mere forgiveness but to dismantle them before God.
This is a personal task. As we renounce the enemy’s programming over our lives, families, and generations, old things pass away, and God’s new things come. May the Lord’s peace be with you, empowering you to walk in victory, triumphing in Jesus’ name.
