We Are No Longer Under The Law?

We often here folks say that we are not “under the law but under grace”, but what does that mean? What did our brother Paul mean by “Under the law” when he wrote? Let’s look at the verse:

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14 KJV

What Law? Paul mentions several different laws throughout his writings:

The Law of the Jews – Acts 25:8

The Law of God – Romans 7:25

The Law of Christ – Galatians 6:2

The Law of my mind – Romans 7:23

The Law of my members – Romans 7:23

The Law of Sin – Romans 7:25

The Law of Sin and Death – Romans 8:2

The Law of the Spirit of Life – Romans 8:2

The Law of Faith – Romans 3:27

The Law of Righteousness – Romans 10:4

Which Law?

Let’s finish Paul’s thought to understand what Law we are no longer under:

“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Romans 6:15 KJV

(Paul is asking; should we continue break the commandments of God since we are not under the laws of sin and death, but under grace? No!

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16 KJV

(Are you servants of sin or servants righteousness?)

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” Romans 6:17 KJV

“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:18 KJV

The Law we are no longer under is the Law of Sin and Death. We are made free from the law of sin and death through obedience to the doctrine we received from Christ, thus becoming servants of Righteousness.

I leave you with the rest of Paul’s thoughts, this time from the Complete Jewish Bible:

“(I am using popular language because your human nature is so weak.) For just as you used to offer your various parts as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led to more lawlessness; so now offer your various parts as slaves to righteousness, which leads to being made holy, set apart for God.” Romans (Rom) 6:19 CJB

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in relationship to righteousness; but what benefit did you derive from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end result of those things was death. However, now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you do get the benefit — it consists in being made holy, set apart for God, and its end result is eternal life.” Romans (Rom) 6:20-22 CJB

“For what one earns from sin is death; but eternal life is what one receives as a free gift from God, in union with the Messiah Yeshua, our master.” Romans (Rom) 6:23 CJB

Shalom