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Romans 6:14: 'Not Under the Law'

G

guibox

Member
Dr. Bacchiocchi says it all quite well. I won't try to top him.

Is the law done away with because we are 'no longer under the law'? Let's find out the context shall we? Any bold,italics or underlines are my emphasis...

Dr. B?



"Romans 6:14 is perhaps the most frequently quoted Pauline text to prove that Christians have been released from the observance of the Law. The text reads: "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under Law but under grace." The common interpretation of this text is that Christians are no longer under the Mosaic Law as a rule of conduct because their moral values derive from the principle of love revealed by Christ. 

This is a serious misreading of this passage because there is nothing in the immediate context to suggest that Paul is speaking of the Mosaic Law. In the immediate and larger context of the whole chapter, Paul contrasts the dominion of sin with the power of Christ’s grace.

The antithesis indicates that "under Law" simply means that Christians are no longer "under the dominion of sin" and, consequently, "under the condemnation of the Law" because the grace of Christ has liberated them from both of them.  

To interpret the phrase "under Law" to mean "under the economy of the Mosaic Law" would imply that believers who were under the Mosaic economy were not the recipients of grace. Such an idea is altogether absurd. Furthermore, as John Murray perceptively observes, "Relief from the Mosaic Law as an economy does not of itself place persons in the category of being under grace." 

"The ‘dominion of Law’ from which believers have been ‘released’ is forthrightly explained by Paul to be the condition of being ‘in sinful nature,’ being ‘controlled’ by ‘sinful passions . . . so that we bore fruit for death’ (Rom 7:1-6). From this spiritual bondage and impotence, the marvellous grace of God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, has set believers free; but it has not set them free to sin against God’s moral principles." 

Since "under grace" means under God’s undeserved favor, the contrast with "under Law" presupposes the idea of being under God’s disfavor or condemnation pronounced by the Law. Thus, in Romans 6:14 Paul teaches that believers should not be controlled by sin (cf. Rom 6:1-2, 6, 11-13) because God’s grace has liberated them from the dominion of sin and the condemnation of the Law. 

In this passage, as John Murray brings out, "there is an absolute antithesis between the potency and provision of the Law and the potency and provision of grace. Grace is the sovereign will and power of God coming to expression for the deliverance of men from the servitude of sin. Because this is so, to be ‘under grace’ is the guarantee that sin will not exercise the dominionâ€â€Ã¢â‚¬Ëœsin will not lord it over you, for ye are not under Law but under grace.’" 

Paul expresses the same thought in Romans 7 where he says: "Brethren, you have died to the Law through the body of Christ . . . . Now we are discharged from the Law, dead to that which held us captive" (Rom 7:4, 6).

The meaning here is that through Christ’s death, Christians have been discharged from the condemnation of the Law and from all the legalistic misunderstanding and misuse of the Law. To put it differently, Christians have died to the Law and have been discharged from it insofar as it condemns them and holds them in bondage as a result of its unlawful, legalistic use. But they are still "under the Law" insofar as the Law reveals to them the moral principles by which to live.  
This interpretation is supported by the immediate context where Paul affirms that "the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good" (Rom 7:12).

Again he says:

"We know that the Law is spiritual" (Rom 7:14).

And again,

"So then, I of myself serve the Law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the Law of sin" (Rom 7:25).

These statements clearly indicate that for Paul the Law is and remains the Law of God, which reveals the moral standard of Christian conduct

Surprisingly, even Rudolf Bultmann, known for his radical rejection of the cardinal doctrines of the New Testament, reaches the same conclusion.

"Though the Christian in a certain sense is no longer ‘under Law’ (Gal 5:18; Rom 6:14), that does not mean that the demands of the Law are no longer valid for him; for the agape [love] demanded of him is nothing else than the fulfillment of the Law (Rom 13:8-10; Gal 5:14)."

The point is well made, because we find that in Romans 13:8-13 Paul explains how love fulfills the Law by citing four specific commandments and by including "any other commandment."  

In the light of these considerations, we conclude that far from dismissing the authority of the Law, Paul teaches that believers should not transgress the Law simply because God’s grace has "set [them] free from sin" (Rom 6:18). It is only the sinful mind that "does not submit to God’s Law" (Rom 8:7). But Christians have the mind of the Spirit who enables them to fulfill "the just requirements of the Law" (Rom 8:4).

Thus, Christians are no longer "under the Law," in the sense that God’s grace has released them from the dominion of sin and the condemnation of the Law, but they are still "under Law" in the sense that they are bound to govern their lives by its moral principles. Thanks to God’s grace, believers have "become obedient from the heart to the standard of teachings" (Rom 6:17) and moral principles contained in God’s Law. 

___________________________

Context, context, context, people...
 
Thought I'd bump this for all the 'law abrogators' who feel we Sabbath keepers are 'under the law'.

Guibox :)
 
That depends on HOW you keep the Sabbath as to whether you are keeping Jesus' "law" or the law of the pharisees (a.k.a. "traditions of our fathers" Galatians 1:14).

I take exception to the phrase, "...bound to govern their lives...". Earlier, the good Dr. points out that love is the fulfillment of the law, but then says that we "must" keep the law. That is, if my interpretation of the word "bound" is correct.

We are all under law of one form or another. The important thing here is to know who's law.

And where do we draw the line? Do we keep the dietary laws? Do we keep the feasts? Do we tithe? Do we observe the Year of Jubilee?
 
"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Galatians 3:2-3
 
10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."[c] 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."[d] 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."[e] 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."[f] 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
 
1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
4Have you suffered so much for nothingâ€â€if it really was for nothing?
5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
 
The Law was Abolished on the Cross

2 Corinthians 3:3-13

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; NOT IN TABLES OF STONE [the 10 commandments], but in fleshy tables of the heart [in the Christ Mind, Spirit, Grace ect.].

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers OF THE NEW TESTAMENT; not of the letter [the 10 commandments] , but of the spirit [of Grace]: for the letter [written on tables of stone]killeth, but the spirit [of Grace] giveth life.

But if THE MINISTRATION OF DEATH, written and engraven in stones [ the 10 commandments], WAS glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

How shall not the ministration of the spirit [the new testament]rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation [the 10 commandments] be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness [Grace] exceed in glory.

For even that which was made glorious [the 10 commandments] had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that exceleth.

For if that which IS done away WAS glorious[THE10 commandments MINISTRATION], much more that which remaineth IS GLORIOUS.

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:the end of that which is abolished the end of that which is abolished the end of that which is abolished: 2 Corinthians 3:3-13

The Law [the 10 commandments]as I'm Guided to believe is pretty much Abolished...


You're Blessed

XICALI
 
guibox said:
Dr. Bacchiocchi says it all quite well. I won't try to top him.

Is the law done away with because we are 'no longer under the law'? Let's find out the context shall we? Any bold,italics or underlines are my emphasis...

Dr. B?



"Romans 6:14 is perhaps the most frequently quoted Pauline text to prove that Christians have been released from the observance of the Law. The text reads: "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under Law but under grace." The common interpretation of this text is that Christians are no longer under the Mosaic Law as a rule of conduct because their moral values derive from the principle of love revealed by Christ.

This is a serious misreading of this passage because there is nothing in the immediate context to suggest that Paul is speaking of the Mosaic Law. In the immediate and larger context of the whole chapter, Paul contrasts the dominion of sin with the power of Christ’s grace.

The antithesis indicates that "under Law" simply means that Christians are no longer "under the dominion of sin" and, consequently, "under the condemnation of the Law" because the grace of Christ has liberated them from both of them.

To interpret the phrase "under Law" to mean "under the economy of the Mosaic Law" would imply that believers who were under the Mosaic economy were not the recipients of grace. Such an idea is altogether absurd. Furthermore, as John Murray perceptively observes, "Relief from the Mosaic Law as an economy does not of itself place persons in the category of being under grace."

"The ‘dominion of Law’ from which believers have been ‘released’ is forthrightly explained by Paul to be the condition of being ‘in sinful nature,’ being ‘controlled’ by ‘sinful passions . . . so that we bore fruit for death’ (Rom 7:1-6). From this spiritual bondage and impotence, the marvellous grace of God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, has set believers free; but it has not set them free to sin against God’s moral principles."

Since "under grace" means under God’s undeserved favor, the contrast with "under Law" presupposes the idea of being under God’s disfavor or condemnation pronounced by the Law. Thus, in Romans 6:14 Paul teaches that believers should not be controlled by sin (cf. Rom 6:1-2, 6, 11-13) because God’s grace has liberated them from the dominion of sin and the condemnation of the Law.

In this passage, as John Murray brings out, "there is an absolute antithesis between the potency and provision of the Law and the potency and provision of grace. Grace is the sovereign will and power of God coming to expression for the deliverance of men from the servitude of sin. Because this is so, to be ‘under grace’ is the guarantee that sin will not exercise the dominionâ€â€Ã¢â‚¬Ëœsin will not lord it over you, for ye are not under Law but under grace.’"

Paul expresses the same thought in Romans 7 where he says: "Brethren, you have died to the Law through the body of Christ . . . . Now we are discharged from the Law, dead to that which held us captive" (Rom 7:4, 6).

The meaning here is that through Christ’s death, Christians have been discharged from the condemnation of the Law and from all the legalistic misunderstanding and misuse of the Law. To put it differently, Christians have died to the Law and have been discharged from it insofar as it condemns them and holds them in bondage as a result of its unlawful, legalistic use. But they are still "under the Law" insofar as the Law reveals to them the moral principles by which to live.
This interpretation is supported by the immediate context where Paul affirms that "the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good" (Rom 7:12).

Again he says:

"We know that the Law is spiritual" (Rom 7:14).

And again,

"So then, I of myself serve the Law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the Law of sin" (Rom 7:25).

These statements clearly indicate that for Paul the Law is and remains the Law of God, which reveals the moral standard of Christian conduct

Surprisingly, even Rudolf Bultmann, known for his radical rejection of the cardinal doctrines of the New Testament, reaches the same conclusion.

"Though the Christian in a certain sense is no longer ‘under Law’ (Gal 5:18; Rom 6:14), that does not mean that the demands of the Law are no longer valid for him; for the agape [love] demanded of him is nothing else than the fulfillment of the Law (Rom 13:8-10; Gal 5:14)."

The point is well made, because we find that in Romans 13:8-13 Paul explains how love fulfills the Law by citing four specific commandments and by including "any other commandment."

In the light of these considerations, we conclude that far from dismissing the authority of the Law, Paul teaches that believers should not transgress the Law simply because God’s grace has "set [them] free from sin" (Rom 6:18). It is only the sinful mind that "does not submit to God’s Law" (Rom 8:7). But Christians have the mind of the Spirit who enables them to fulfill "the just requirements of the Law" (Rom 8:4).

Thus, Christians are no longer "under the Law," in the sense that God’s grace has released them from the dominion of sin and the condemnation of the Law, but they are still "under Law" in the sense that they are bound to govern their lives by its moral principles. Thanks to God’s grace, believers have "become obedient from the heart to the standard of teachings" (Rom 6:17) and moral principles contained in God’s Law.

___________________________

Context, context, context, people...
Click to expand...
When Paul said that Christians are not under the law, he meant that Christians are not under the law's condemnation. When Paul indicated that the Jews are under the law, he meant that the Jews are under the law's condemnation, because they know the law, but do not carry it out. When Paul said that Christians are under grace, he meant that Christians are protected from condemnation by the law, when they have faith.

When a Christian has faith, he serves the law of God by becoming a slave to the law / Holy Spirit (Romans 7:25, Romans 8:9). If someone is a slave to something, he has no choice but to do what his master orders. Therefore when a Christian has faith, he serves the law in a compulsory (and natural) manner, due to the fact that the Holy Spirit controls his behavior. That is why Paul wrote the following:

Romans 9

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."
33 As it is written:
"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

The Gentiles who had faith and did not directly pursue the law, winded up abiding by the law, because the Holy Spirit compelled them to do so. That is how righteousness by faith works: when someone has faith, he falls under the dominion of God who controls that person's actions, and ensures that that person does His will. Therefore choosing to walk in sin, or choosing to walk in righteousness, is a matter of choosing to not have faith, or choosing to have faith - respectively. It is a fallacy that a person can choose to directly walk in sin, or choose to directly walk in righteousness. A person can only choose to walk in sin or walk in righteousness indirectly, by not having faith, or by having faith.
 
The first Reformation (Huss, Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli) brought back the Biblical ideas such as Bible Alone (Sola Scriptura), Grace Alone (Sola Gratia), Christ Alone (Solo Christo), Faith Alone (Sola Fide) and God Alone (Soli Deo Gloria).

The second Reformation (Watts, Darby, Kelly, MacKintosh, Anderson) brought back the Biblical ideas such as right division, new creature (Gal. 6:15-16; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:8-10; 4:24; Col. 3:10) birth (frist Adam/Last Adam), our station in Christ and sanctification by Grace alone.

Too many times I see people in the modern Church have forgotton these truths. Many believe Grace gives us the ability to follow the Law, this is Galatianism and false. The motto of the first Reformation was Salvation by Grace alone and you can add sanctification by the Law! That junk theology and falls short of true Biblical teaching. The second Reformation built upon the truths recovered and restored proper Biblical understanding with the motto, "salvation by Grace, sanctification by Grace!"

"Run, John, run! The Law commands!
But gives me neither feet nor hands.
Far grander news the Gospel (grace) brings:
It bids me fly and gives me wings!"

– John Bunyan

That's exactly it.

The Law never made anyone holy before God, Jesus Christ does/did. What is the believers rule of life? Not the Law, read the follow and see for yourself.

"And now, little children, ABIDE IN HIM; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming" (1 John 2:28).

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT" (Ephesians 5:18).

"This I say then, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

"Likewise RECKON YE ALSO YOURSELVES TO BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:11).

"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD, AS THOSE THAT ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Rom. 6:13).

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO WALK YE IN HIM" (Col. 2:6).

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye WALK WORTHY of the vocation [the believer’s high, heavenly, holy CALLING] wherewith ye are called" (Eph. 4:1).

"And that ye PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:24).

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT" (Eph. 5:8).

"If ye then be risen with Christ, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1).

"PUT ON therefore, AS THE ELECT OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering" (Col. 3:12).

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:1-2).

We are not under the Law of Moses, but inlawed to Christ, we are not without Law, but a New Law in Christ. You'll notice all of the 10 commandments are re-stated in the NT...all except the 4th, see Hebrews 4.

Peace
 
For a long time I placed myself in the 'either or' dilema, it's false logic but anyways, I believed you had to be either Covenantal or Dispensational.

Take a look at http://www.ids.org. It seems to be a systematic form of classic Anabaptist/Baptist views of the NT. It's interesting reading and they are able to show the Sabbath is no longer valid for the Believer.

Peace
 
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