Not Under the Law?

The prevailing mindset in evangelical Christianity is that because Christ died for us, all those who claim to believe in Him are no longer under the law but under grace. But that’s not exactly what the Bible says. Did you know that there are conditions for not being under the law but under grace?

[Galatians 5:18] But IF you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

[Galatians 2:19] For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God.

[Romans 6:14] Sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.

This means: If we are not led by the Spirit, we are not under grace. If we don’t live for God, we are not under grace. If we live for ourselves, we are not under grace. If we live in willful sin, sin is our master, we are its slaves, and we are not under grace but under judgment.

[Galatians 5:19-21] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Isn’t this clear enough? If you live in any of the above sins, you are not under grace but on the broad road to destruction, even if you profess faith in Christ and go to church. And this is just one of the lists of damnable sins.

So, if you believe your sins don’t matter anymore because “we are under grace” or “Christ did it all” or “sin has been dealt with at the cross,” you have believed a lie. Like Paul, I also warn you, as I warned you before, to come to your senses before it’s too late and repent, which means stop all willful sin and turn from sin and self to God.

If we want to see heaven, we must be led by the Spirit, walk by the Spirit, and crucify our sinful nature by the Spirit.

[Galatians 5:16] Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

[Romans 8:13] If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

The Bible means exactly what it says: If you live according to the flesh you will die, even if you believe in Jesus. Those who are under grace have been set free from the slavery of sin. That means they no longer live in willful sin and are serious about sanctifying their lives.

[Romans 6:15-18] What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Again, the Bible means exactly what it says: Sin leads to death, even if you believe in Jesus. Those who are saved are no longer slaves of sin. They obey from the heart. They have been set free from sin.