Romans 8:3 (ESV)
³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

I like the way this verse begins.  Every blessing that we enjoy due to the relationship we have with God in Christ is because of what “God has done.”  What did God do?  He sent His Son to take care of the problem of sin.  We should never take this for granted.  It was the greatest act of love the world had ever seen up to that point, surpassed only by what was to come.

John 3:16 (ESV)
¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

This part of the text shows us the brilliance of God and His scheme of redemption.  No one, not even the angels of heaven, could have imagined that God would redeem mankind by sending His Son to earth in the likeness of sinful flesh.  God had a plan, and it involved a manifestation of God (the Son of God) in the flesh.  Paul refers to the Son coming “in the likeness of sinful flesh” because Jesus looked like everyone else, taking on human form with all of its weaknesses and frailties.  This is how the Hebrews writer put it:

Hebrews 2:14-17 (ESV)
¹⁴ Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Jesus became a man, and up until that point, every man, that is, every human being, had given in to sin and become corrupt.  Jesus was separated from all who came before Him or after Him in that He never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5).  This is what qualified Him to be our Savior.  He could taste death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9) without condemning Himself in the process.  He did this by dying in our stead.  That was the price that had to be paid.

Romans 6:23 (ESV)
²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do not miss the fact that God did what the law could not do.  The law could reveal sin, but it could not take it away.

Acts 13:38–39 (ESV)
³⁸ Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Thank God that the law of the Spirit of life was introduced to set us free.  But that law would not exist if God were not willing to send His Son, and His Son was not willing to come and offer Himself for our sins.  Just something to think about as we wind down tonight.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.