One of the most helpful words in the English language is for (or because).

We love it for it helps establish grounding in a line of thought. Paul loved it, too. He especially loved it in Romans 8, where he used it—γὰρ (gar) in Greek—17 times. The first of which comes in verse 2.

“because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:2, NIV)

Paul had just said, in verse 1, that no condemnation remains for those who believe in Jesus. And now, in verse 2, he gives us the reason: they have been set free. But Paul doesn’t stop there; instead, he anticipates the questions to come from a statement like that—set free from what, and how?—and answers them for us.

He says that the νόμος (the law, principle, instruction, or even power)—of the Spirit of life has set them free. Notice how the Spirit—the third person of the Trinity—is linked with life. Further, notice how Paul places the Spirit of life in opposition to the νόμος of sin and death.

In Paul’s worldview, which I take to be the worldview of Jesus in particular and Scripture as a whole, there is life and there is death. And, for those of us made in the image of God—all of humanity—we have a decision to make regarding our allegiance. Are we going to trust in that which gives life, or are we going to trust in that which can only give death?

Paul is writing to those who have chosen Jesus, even if they’re unclear as to how their choice of Jesus has given them life. He still wants them to know what’s true about them now: no condemnation remains for you as you are united to Jesus (v. 1), because the νόμος of Spirit of life has shattered the enslaving chains of the νόμος of sin and death.