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.

My favorite verse in all scriptures is Romans 8:1. I love it so much I have allowed it to overshadow verse 2 that I quote here today. The issues of legalism have always been a great big stop sign to me. It just never occurred to me that the law has a good side. Perhaps that is because I had always been on the wrong side of the law.

Laws have an inherent protective quality. Natural laws cannot be violated by anyone except their creator. Jesus showed that ability in His ministry. Man’s laws were intended to protect people from harm but were powerless to enforce anything except punishment, and is subject to abuses.

Now the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has both the ability to protect and to enforce because it is administered by the Holy Spirit and not man. This law is not subject to corruption and abuse of men. It is God breathed.

Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

John 15:4,5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

So then abiding in Christ is abiding in the law of the Spirit of life. The abundant life is the one that produces many fruits of the spirit.

Christ abiding is law abiding.

Revelation 2:7a; 2:11a; 2:17a; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

Nowhere in all of scriptures can I find the same exact phrase repeated over and over and over in such close proximity. Do you think, maybe, perhaps, that this is an indication of just how important the phrasing is to God and to us?

Let us break it down one element at a time. “He that hath an ear,”!

Ezekiel 12:2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

These ears do not belong to those in rebellion.

Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

These words Jesus spoke to His disciples. We are disciples of Christ, we are not in rebellion, we can hear the Spirit. Now “hear what the Spirit saith”.

Matthew 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

When you listen, do you hear the words of men or the Spirit? We still have natural ears which are capable of listening to mere words. We have spiritual ears that are capable of hearing the Spirit.

Revelations 3:3a Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.

This great warning was given to the church in Sardis, which brings us to the third part, “to the churches.”

Revelation 3:2b I have not found thy works perfect before God.

The perfect work is wrought in God, delivered to us by the Holy Spirit, for the obedience of faith.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Listen for the Spirit.