Romans 8:2 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For the law of the Spirit of life— That it is the Spirit of life and grace,—the Spirit of Christ,—who delivers from the law in the members, that law of death, is evident from chap. Romans 7:23-25. Why it is called a law, may be found in the antithesis to the law of sin and death; grace being as certain a law to give life to Christians, who live not after the flesh, as the influence of sinful appetites is to bring death on those who are not under grace. The reason why it is called the law of the Spirit of life is, that the Gospel which contains this doctrine of grace is dictated by the same Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead; that quickens us to newness of life, and has for its end the conferring of eternal life. By the law of sin and death is meant, that which he calls the law in his members, chap. Romans 7:23 where it is termed the law of sin; and Romans 8:24 the body of death, from which grace delivers. This is certain, that no one who considers what St. Paul has said, Romans 8:7; Romans 8:13 of the foregoing chapter, can think that he can call the law of Moses the law of sin, or the law of death. See Locke.