Not Under Law

Not Under Law, But Under Grace

A fundamental aspect of the new covenant is the deliverance from the curse of the law. Believers are considered to have become "dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God" (Romans 7:4 NKJV). This signifies a profound transformation, as believers have been "delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter" (Romans 7:6 NKJV).

This liberation means that our "old man"—our former self enslaved to sin—"was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin" (Romans 6:6 NKJV). Consequently, believers are urged not to "let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin" (Romans 6:12-13 NKJV). Instead, they are to "present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (Romans 6:13 NKJV). The promise is clear: "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14 NKJV).

The transition from law (an external relationship to the law) to grace (an internal relationship to the law) brings with it the assurance of "no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1 NKJV). The "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2 NKJV). This is because what the Mosaic Law could not achieve due to the weakness of human flesh, God accomplished by sending His own Son (who gave us His Spirit). Through Yeshua, God "condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:3-4 NKJV).

Living "according to the flesh" leads to death and an adversarial relationship with God, as it is not subject to God's law (Romans 8:6-7 NKJV). Conversely, living "according to the Spirit" leads to life and peace (Romans 8:6 NKJV), and those who have the Spirit of God dwelling in them are considered to be in the Spirit and belong to Christ (Romans 8:8-9 NKJV).

Yeshua's Fulfillment of the Law

While believers are no longer under the condemnation of the law, Yeshua's teachings clarify His relationship to the Law and the Prophets. He explicitly stated, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17 NKJV). He emphasized the enduring nature of the Law, declaring that "assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18 NKJV). Yeshua affirmed that "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19 NKJV).

In fulfilling the law, Yeshua "raised the standards of the law". He moved beyond outward compliance to address the inward intent and condition of the heart:

• Murder and Anger: While the old saying was "You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment," Yeshua taught that "whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." Furthermore, using derogatory terms like "Raca!" or "You fool!" carries even greater spiritual peril (Matthew 5:21-22 NKJV).

• Adultery and Lust: The traditional commandment was "You shall not commit adultery." Yeshua expanded this to the heart, declaring that "whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in her heart" (Matthew 5:27-28 NKJV).

• Divorce: Regarding divorce, Yeshua taught that while it was said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce," He stated that "whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 5:31-32 NKJV).

In essence, Yeshua’s fulfillment of the Law didn't nullify its moral weight but intensified its application to the internal life and motivations. It moves beyond external obedience to a transformation of the heart, aligning with the "newness of the Spirit" that characterizes those living under grace. This new covenant frees believers from the condemnation of the law through Christ's sacrifice, empowering them to live righteously not by legalistic adherence, but by the Spirit, reflecting the elevated standards Yeshua exemplified and taught.