Question:
What is it to be “under the law?”
Answer:
This is quite clearly shown in the passages where the expression occurs, for instance, Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:18: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace;” “but if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” In the first scripture, we are told that sin does not have dominion over those who are not under the law and that those who are not under the law are under grace. God’s object of grace is the forgiveness of sins. That is shown in an abundance of passages. See Romans 5:1, 2; 3:20-31. Grace is unmerited favor. By the unmerited favor of God, our sins are taken away. The one thing which points out sin is the law. “Nay, I had not known sin,” declares the apostle, “except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Romans 7:7. “Where no law is, there is no transgression.” Romans 4:15. “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20. Therefore, grace brings us into harmony with God’s law: first, by forgiving all the sin which the law points out, for which the law condemns us; and secondly, by placing within us God’s Holy Spirit in harmony with His law, to write that law in our hearts (Hebrews 8:10), and so enable us to keep His law, not in our strength, but in the strength of the Spirit.
Those then who are “under the law” are condemned by the law, who are still in their sins. Those who are not “under the law” are those whose sins are forgiven and who, by the power of the Spirit of God, are keeping the law. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3. And that love is born within our hearts by the Holy Ghost He has given us. Romans 5:5.
It is one of the saddest things to hear a Christian say when confronted with the duty of doing God’s commandments, “I am not under the law,” using an expression that shows liberty from sin as an excuse or license to disobey. The only thing in this world which leads the soul to disobey is “the carnal mind,” which “is enmity against God”; “is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7. Therefore, as an excuse for disobedience to God, the man who declares that he is not under the law is confessing by that very thing that he has a carnal mind. On the other hand, those who walk in the Spirit and fulfill the fruits of the Spirit, the apostle assures us in Galatians 5, are not under the law, for “against such there is no law.” Why? Because they are keeping the law of God.
