From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
August 1 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has
made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2 We by nature and practice are slaves to sin and Satan. We
are the sport of the prince of the power of the air, who takes us captive at
his will. We are held down also by many hurtful lusts; or, if free from
gross sin, are slaves to pride, covetousness, or self-righteousness. Perhaps
some idol is set up in the chambers of imagery which defiles all the inner
man; or some snare of Satan entangles our feet, and we are slaves, without
power to liberate ourselves from this cruel slavery. We groan under it, as
the children of Israel under their burdens, but, like them, cannot deliver
ourselves. But sooner or later the truth comes to our aid; the truth
as it is in Jesus flies to the rescue of God's oppressed family; the blessed
Spirit opens it up and seals it upon the heart with a divine power. As,
then, under his gracious influences they believe the truth, and feel its
power and savor in their heart, a liberating influence is communicated;
their fetters and shackles are loosened; the bondage of sin and Satan, and
the power and strength of evil are sensibly broken, and a measure of holy
freedom is enjoyed. There is no other way of getting from under the bondage
of the law but by the application of the gospel, and by believing what the
gospel reveals. As the truth, then, comes to the heart as the very word of
the living God, power comes with it to believe; faith is raised up to credit
the testimony; and as faith begins to credit the truth of God and receive it
in hope and love, there is a sensible loosening of the bonds; and then the
chains and fetters drop off of themselves. It is with the soul as it was
with Peter in prison--when the angel came, and a light shined in the prison,
and the angel's words fell upon his ears, "the chains fell from off his
hands." There remained nothing then to bar his exit; for "the iron gate that
leads unto the city opened to them of its own accord." So whatever chains or
fetters may hold the soul, let the angel of mercy come; let the message of
salvation be revealed, the chains of unbelief drop off, the iron gate of
hardness gives way, and the truth makes the soul blessedly free (John 8:32).