Romans 8:2 : For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. It seems to me that the phrase "in Christ Jesus" modifies "made free," for it is in Christ that we are made free. To connect this phrase with the "law of the Spirit of life" leaves us in doubt as to its significance. "For" connects this verse with the preceding verse, and assigns the reason as to why there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, for in Christ Jesus we have been made free from that which causes condemnation--namely, the law of sin and of death. This freedom is accomplished by the law of the Spirit of life. Many descriptive titles are applied to the Holy Spirit, each such title growing out of some particular work the Holy Spirit does, or some office he fills. "It is the spirit that giveth life" (John 6:63). Hence, the Spirit of life. But what is the law of the Spirit of life? If we can determine what the law of sin and death is, from which the law of the Spirit delivers us, we should be able to see what the law of the Spirit is. The death here mentioned is spiritual death, for in becoming a Christian a person is not delivered from the law of physical death. This law of sin and death cannot be the law of Moses for, taking Romans 8:2 and Romans 8:3 together, we see that the law of Moses could not do what the law of the Spirit had done. If the law of sin and death is the law of Moses, then we have Paul making the absurd statement that the law of Moses could not de-liver us from the law of Moses! But Paul never wrote such foolishness. The law of sin and death is the law set forth in Romans 7:23 : "But I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin, which is in my members." To be in captivity under the law of sin is to be dead spiritually. Hence, this law of sin in our members is also the law of death. Freedom from that law is salvation. But the law of the Spirit of life makes us free from the law of sin and death that is, it is that by which we are saved. In Romans 1:16, Paul tells us that the gospel is God's power for saving people. We conclude, therefore, that the law of the Spirit of life is the gospel. This conclusion harmonizes with Paul's line of reasoning. It would be absurd to think that Paul started in to prove that the gospel is God's power for saving people, and then reached the conclusion that some other law saves us, or frees us, from sin and spiritual death.