Not being under the law is not being under its condemnation
Not exactly.The following study explains it in more detail:
NOT UNDER LAW
When confronted with certain of the commands,which should be observed by Christians but which are largely ignored by the majority,those who ignore these commands will boldly say; they are not under the law but under grace.
"For sin shall not have dominion over you:for ye are not under the law,but under grace."[
Romans 6:14]
To understand what is meant by "not under the law" we must know what it is to be under grace.
Grace - (5485,Strong' s)charis, from 5463;graciousness( as gratifying), of manner or act(abstr.or concr.;lit., fig.or spiritual;espec. the divine influence upon the heart,and its reflection in the life;including gratitude):
With regards to God's act towards sinners it is thus defined as:The kindness by which God bestows favours and blessings upon the ill deserving,and grants to sinners pardon of their offenses,otherwise called unmeruted favour.(Bible dictionary - The Family Bible)
To be under grace is therefore not speaking of the Christian using something other than the law of God to define sin or right living but of the way sin is dealt with ie. how God treats sinners.
To be under law in this context would be a reference, therefore ,also to the way in which sin is dealt with by the law.The passage alludes to this as it says;
"For sin shall not have dominion over you:.."
This passage speaks of a change in the way sin and its consequences are to be treated,all because of the actions of Christ.[See,
Romans 6:9-11]
How was sin and sinners treated before Christ, the Messiah came to save His people?How did sin have dominion over man?
In the old covenant sin had dominion over man in two ways.
(i)Sinners had a curse pronounced against them for failing to keep the commands of the law.Also any sinner discovered was likely to be punished for his sin and death by various means was one of the punishments. [
Deuteronomy 27:26;
Exodus 21:12-24;
Leviticus 24:10-23;
Deuteronomy 19:11-21;17: 2-13;
Hebrews 10:28.]
(ii)There were onerous ceremonies which were to be performed in order to approach God in worship and to atone for the sins of the people.[See,
Leviticus 1-7,16,23]
"And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you to make atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year.And he did as the Lord commanded Moses"[
Leviticus 16:34]
However these sacrifices and ceremonies for sin were only temporary measures put in place until Christ should have made the sacrifice which would remove sin and its consequent result of eternal separation from God.All these(temporary measures) were called
patterns,figures and shadows.[
Exodus 25:9,40;
Hebrews 8:5;9:22-28; 10:1-10]
To continue to administer the punishments, to refuse to acknowledge the true and perfect sacrifice of Jesus and to continue to trust in the sacrifices and ceremonies is to be under the law.
It is God's grace in making the sacrifice of Jesus available to all,but God's grace does not replace the commands which were broken and which caused the sacrifices and ceremonies to be introduced,Hence Paul asks:
"What then?
shall we sin,because we are not under the law,but under grace?God forbid."[
Romans 6:15]
The writer of Hebrews says we have been redeemed from transgressions described by the first covenant:
"And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament,that by means of death,
for the redemption of transgressions that were under the first testament,they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" [
Hebrews 9:15]
Paul was also able to say he was:
"...
being not without law to God but under the law to Christ..." [I Corinthians 9:21]
He also says the law is that which identifies sin.[See,
Romans 3:20b;7:7]
This clearly shows Paul was still subject to parts of the law and prophets but that the Lord Jesus Christ had replaced portions which related to His death.Hence Christians are not under the law but are still subject to the commands in the law and prophets which define sin,right and wrong.
The ten commandments are referred to in this way where Christian life is concerned.[See, Romans:13: 8-10;I Corinthians 7:19;
Hebrews 8:10;
James 2:10-12]
The best example of what is involved in being under grace is seen in the case of the woman caught in adultery.
The woman was found guilty of breaking the command:
"
Thou shalt not commit adultery."[
Exodus 20:14]
According to the law she was to have been stoned to death.[
Leviticus 20:10;
John 8:5]
Grace was exercised and Jesus said; "...
Neither do I condemn thee.."[
John 8:11]
Jesus did not prescribe any remedy for atonement according to the law.[eg.
Leviticus 16:1-34]
However at the end of it all, she was told :
"...
go and sin no more. "[
John 8:11]
Hence; " Thou shalt not commit adultery", still stands and she is still subject to the law of God even thou grace freed her from the penalty of sin.
It is the same now, as we access this grace by faith but are to practice the "
good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."[
Ephesians 2:8-10]
Many persons teach the opposite of this,as they claim those who observe the ten commandments and other aspects of the law which define right living (righteousness) are under a curse,fallen from grace and are trying to earn their own salvation.
Jesus and the apostles knew there would be persons who would attempt to distort the gospel in this way and their words on this subject are clear.
Jesus knew there would be many who would claim to believe and have faith in Him.He states clearly that this must be accompanied by their obedience:
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him,
if ye continue in my word,then are ye my disciples indeed."[
John 8:31]
Paul said it this way:
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing,nor uncircumcision, but
faith which worketh by love."[
Galatians 5:6]
James makes it clear that our faith is dead unless accompanied by our works:
"Ye see then how that
by works a man is justified,and not by faith only....For as the body without the spirit is dead,so
faith without works is dead also."[
James 2:24,26]
John states clearly it is not wrong for us as Christians to do works of righteousness:
"Little children let no man deceive you:
he that doeth righteousness is righteous,even as He is righteous."[ I
John 3:7]
In conclusion;we
must have faith in the sacrifice of Christ in order for us to gain forgiveness and remission of our sins.Any one who continues to trust in the shadows (sacrifices and ceremonies) is still under the law and is condemned to die for; "all have sinned,and come short of the glory of God;" so
all have to depend on Christ for salvation.[
Romans 3:23,28]
The law is not made completely void however as it still identifies sin and right living and hence Paul asks:
"Do we then make void the law through faith?"
And answers:
"
God forbid we establish the law."[
Romans 3:31]
The law which is established includes the ten commandments. [
Romans 13:8-14;7:7; 2:10-13,21- 23;I Timothy 1:9-11]
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