So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Rom7:4-6
Which law is Paul writing about in the above?
In the next five verses he tells us, he gives an example of the law he is writing about, the example given is ''thou shalt not covet'' one of the ten commandments
Please note the following - I believe there are so many Christians that agree with some or all of your interpretations regarding the 10 commandments. I have a different understanding of.
1. Released from the law as a covenant of condemnation
Paul says:
“You also died to the law through the body of Christ…”
“We have been released from the law…”
— Romans 7:4, 6
That means the believer is no longer
standing before God under the old covenant as the basis of righteousness, judgment, and condemnation.
The law can reveal sin.
The law can condemn sin.
The law can expose the sinner.
But the law cannot give life or save.
So Christ’s death releases us from the law’s condemning authority over us.
But that is
not the same as saying God’s commandments are now morally irrelevant.
2. Released from the law does not mean released into disobedience. I believe this is the fatal flaw in your argument.
If “released from the law” means “the Ten Commandments no longer need to be obeyed,” then Paul’s own example creates a problem.
Paul quotes:
“
You shall not covet.”
— Romans 7:7
So is Paul saying Christians are now released from the command not to covet? Obviously not. And if that logic were applied consistently, then Christians would also be “released” from the commands against idolatry, blasphemy, dishonoring parents, murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and coveting.
That cannot be Paul’s meaning.
Paul is
not saying:
“
You died to the law, therefore you may now violate God’s commandments.”
He is saying:
“You died to the law
as your condemning master, so that you may now belong to Christ and bear fruit for God.” That is Romans 7:4.
3. Paul’s conclusion is not no obedience, but new obedience.
Romans 7:6 says:
“
We serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”
Notice the word
serve. Paul does not say, “
We no longer serve God.”
He says we now serve God in a different way. Not under the oldness of the letter.
Not as condemned sinners trying to gain righteousness through the law.
But by the Spirit, belonging to Christ, bearing fruit for God.
Romans 8:4 confirms this:
“
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
That is the clearest correction to the wrong interpretation of Romans 7:4–
Paul does not say the righteousness of the law is abolished.
He says it is fulfilled in those who walk according to the
Therefore, I agree Romans 7 includes the Ten Commandments because Paul quotes “You shall not covet.” But I do not agree that “released from the law” means Christians are released from obeying God’s commandments. If that were Paul’s meaning, then Christians would be free to covet, steal, commit adultery, murder, lie, and worship idols. That is not Paul’s argument.
Paul says we died to the law so that we might “belong to another,” meaning Christ, and “bear fruit for God.” That is not freedom from obedience.
That is freedom from the law as a condemning covenant, so that we may now serve God in the new way of the Spirit.
Romans 7:6 does not say we no longer serve. It says we serve in newness of Spirit, not oldness of letter. And Romans 8:4 says the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in those who walk after the Spirit.
