What Does It Mean to 'Not Be Under the Law?'

What Does It Mean to 'Not Be Under the Law?'

Paul’s teaching that believers are “not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14) has often been misunderstood, sometimes leading people to believe they have no moral obligations or restrictions whatsoever. But the reality is far richer. To truly grasp this concept, we must explore four key aspects: freedom from the Mosaic Law as a means of justification, walking in the Spirit through the Word of God, avoiding legalism and condemnation, and understanding the common misconceptions about the law.

Righteousness by faith, not by law

First, being free from the law means grace believers are no longer required to follow the Mosaic Law to attain righteousness. Paul explains this beautifully in Galatians 3:24-25: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Before Christ, the law served as a guide, teaching people about sin and their need for salvation. Its purpose was not to save, but to point them to Christ. However, now that Christ has come, believers now live under grace through faith in Him, not under a rigid law system for righteousness. Romans 6:14 clearly states: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” This doesn’t mean that sin is now acceptable, but rather that righteousness is a result of faith, not legal adherence. Through His death and resurrection, Christ fulfilled the law so that believers could be declared righteous through His finished work, not through personal effort.

The Journey of Faith, Love, and Hope

The Journey of Faith, Love, and Hope

Upon hearing of the faith and love among the Ephesians, Paul begins to pray for them and writes these profound truths to them. He would not have written the contents of Ephesians to the Corinthians, nor to the Galatians in the state they were in. The Corinthians were babes in Christ, incapable of perceiving and understanding spiritual truths. Paul addresses the Corinthians saying, 

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."  1 Corinthians 3:1-2. 

The Galatians had lost their footing—their faith was overthrown, and had returned to the law, striving to establish their own righteousness and salvation rather than placing their faith in Christ. Paul warned them, 

"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Galatians 5:2.

Those seeking justification through the law had fallen from grace. Likewise, the Corinthians exhibited signs of immaturity—envy, strife, and division among them.

To truly grasp the deep spiritual truths contained in Ephesians, one must reach a certain level of maturity. Until then, these great depths of God's eternal plan and purpose remain beyond full comprehension. Paul highlights this progression in several of his letters. In the opening of Romans, he declares:

Spiritual Growth is from Heart to Mind to Heart (Part 1)

Spiritual Growth is from Heart to Mind to Heart

How does the bible describe the internal workings of biblical salvation? This thought occurred to me the other day, so I went to the source to find out exactly what happens. 

Consider Lydia, a woman from Thyatira, whose encounter with the message of Paul is recorded in Acts 16:14: "One of those listening was a certain woman, whose name was Lydia, the seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." I heard an expression a while back that fits the context perfectly. "We are all blind until the Lord opens our eyes". This is so true! We wouldn’t even know the salvation that the Lord offers until His grace reaches us and we choose to receive it. Lydia’s heart, closed to the truth for all those years, was divinely opened by hearing the grace gospel, and it is in that very moment of faith that salvation took root within her. This example in Acts confirms a core principle: Christianity originates within the heart.

From that very moment a believer responds in faith and believes the grace gospel, they are justified and are saved from the wrath of God and from an eternal doom. From that moment on, nothing, absolutely nothing, can change that instantaneous and permanent standing with God. Paul confirms this perfectly in Romans 5:1-2 when he writes, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Notice how we can rejoice in hope of the glory of God! The hope expressed here is not a fear of an uncertain outcome, but an optimistic expectation and confident anticipation of its assured realization. Justification is permanent. God’s decree states that those how have faith in His Son are counted as righteous, an eternal promise He made to Abraham 4000 years ago, Romans 4:3: a promise that stands eternal and that guarantees peace with God, Romans 4:9-11.

Romans 6: Growing Beyond Justification

Romans 6: Growing Beyond Justification

Justification through faith, as described in Romans 5:1, is not the end of the Christian life. Instead, justification marks the starting line of a transformative journey of faith. It is the open door to a lifelong process of spiritual growth and maturity. What follows justification is essential for believers: the renewal of the mind and ultimately the transformation of one’s heart.

Romans 6 introduces us to the next critical step in this journey—introspection. It calls believers to turn inward and address the dominion of sin that remains a force in our mortal bodies. Without engaging with this inward transformation, many believers remain spiritual babes, as Paul lamented regarding the Corinthians, 1Cor.3:1-2. But with intentionality, we can progress towards the maturity God desires for us. Romans 6 equips us for this step, guiding us to understand what it means to be dead to sin and alive to God. This renewal is foundational for every believer who seeks to grow into the fullness of their faith and Paul’s doctrine.

Let us now explore the powerful truths of Romans 6, particularly focusing on the crux of the matter found in Romans 6:16, which reveals the vital process of yielding, obedience, and the fruits of righteousness.

What Romans 6 Teaches Us: Dead to Sin and Alive to God

Romans 6 addresses a profound truth: through Christ, our relationship with sin has fundamentally changed. We are no longer slaves to sin, but we are invited to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). However, this does not happen automatically; it requires a mindset shift and an active faith.

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 16 of 16 - There is therefore now no condemnation)

Start this lesson series here: 
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 16 of 16 - There is therefore now no condemnation)

Brief summary of sanctification

Due to the holidays, there has been a long break between this new post and the previous post in this series. It is fitting therefore to briefly recap the key points from this study before I wrap up with Romans chapter 8.

If you have followed this study, you may recall that Romans 1 to 4 deals with the concepts of justification, a free gift of God to those who choose to believe in the cross work of Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation. Paul then writes a transitional chapter, Romans 5, that rounds off justification and starts to introduce sanctification, the second part of a believer’s full salvation experience. 

The primary purpose of this study is to inform believers of sanctification which is either ignored, or neglected, due to poor spiritual teachings in the modern church. Salvation does not stop at justification. Though justification saves our souls unto eternal life, sanctification is a continuation of salvation that transforms us into living sacrifices for God’s purpose while we occupy this life, Rom.12:1-2, but also saves us from loss, 1Cor.3:15, and towards the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Phil.3:14, in the ages to come: which is a measure of the glory of Christ, Rom.8:18; 1Cor.15:41; 2Cor.3:9; 2Cor.4:17; Eph.1:18; Col.1:27; 1Th.2:12; 2Th.2:14.

Paul elaborates on the concept of sanctification in Romans 6 and 7. I refer to the contents of these two chapters as the definition, or two pillars, of sanctification, which involve the knowledge of being dead to sin and being delivered from the law.

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 13 - Shall we sin, because we are not under the law)

Start this lesson series here: 
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 13 - Shall we sin, because we are not under the law)

In Romans 6:1-13, Paul teaches us that in a positional (or heavenly) state, we are dead to sin, having been crucified with Christ, and that we need to accept this by faith so that as Christ was resurrected by the power of God, we too can walk in that newness of the resurrection life of Christ. In additional to coming to this understanding concerning sin, we are also introduced to the truth that we are dead to the law by the body of Christ. See these few verses to highlight the fact,

Rom.3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; …  28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. …  

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

Though Paul expounds on this topic in chapter 7, he starts this topic in chapter 6 with another rhetorical question to counteract and neutralise the reasoning mind of believers, saying, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?”