Romans 8:3

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans he describes the essence of sin, that man is born in sin. The writer of Hebrews is writing about the concept of sin, that yielding to temptation is sin.

God became man in order to show that it is possible to carry the burden of sin without yielding to its demands. Jesus had to carry the burden of sin to the cross in order to be the perfect sacrifice to put an end to sin as a barrier to having a relationship with God. It was a judicial act putting sin itself on trial and putting an end to sin.

We do not go to hell because of sin. Eternal life comes to us through faith in the atoning sacrifice of the man participating in God the Father’s plan to redeem His children. He lost them to disobedience and redeemed them by obedience of His Son Jesus Christ.

Psalm 69:13

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

We are not saved by our faithfulness but rather by His.

If the concept of sin has been destroyed then what is the purpose of our faithfulness?

The simple answer is to show our love for God who saved us from ourselves.

In my past there have been discussions about love being the target and our obedience is the aim and release of our arrow, the cupid concept. Since the small red center of the target is perfect love then hitting anywhere on the target is acceptable even if we don’t hit the red bullseye.

Allow me to use that analogy to help our aim. Get closer to the target.

Matthew 19:16

The Rich Young Man

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Jesus met this young man where he lived, in the law. The young man agreed with Jesus and said he had kept the law. Then Jesus said something profoundly different. “If you would be perfect!”

Keeping the law does not make one perfect, it only makes us law abiding.

Jesus then exposed the young man’s heart. He had things he felt he could not lose and be content.

Matthew 16:26

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

What the man asked of Jesus was eternal life based on good deeds. Eternal life is not granted based on good deeds. The young man’s question itself was flawed.

Matthew 23:23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

There is the letter of the law and then again the spirit of the law. What are the terms and conditions of the law, to obey both the letter and spirit of the law. What is the spirit of the law?

Romans 8:3  8:4

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.