Tag: Romans

Sons of God

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Romans 8:12-14 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

‘Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh’ – So then, we owe the flesh nothing. It has no more control of our lives. We must not live in the sins of the flesh or we shall die. But if we will put to death the practices of the flesh by the Spirit, we shall live (8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-26; Col. 3:5-10).

The Flesh and Spirit life contrasted: The Fleshly Life: Minds things of flesh; carnally minded; spiritually dead; enmity to God; not subject to God; cannot be subject; cannot please God; not in the Spirit; not Christ’s; body alive to sin; spirit dead to God; no Christ; sinful life; no Holy Spirit; no physical quickening; debtor to flesh; no help from Spirit; the end is death. The Spiritual Life: minds things of Spirit (8:5); spiritually minded; alive (8:6); no enmity (8:7); subject to God; can be subjected; can please God (8:8); in the Spirit; is Christ’s (8:9); dead to sin; alive to God; Christ in life (8:10); righteous life; Spirit indwelling; a physical quickening; not a debtor (8:12); help from Spirit (8:13); the end is life.

‘Led by the Spirit of God’ – it is imperative for the child of God to be led by the Spirit, to live and walk in the Spirit, and to meditate on His Word and to obey it – if he is to have success and live a Christian life (8:1-16; Gal. 5:16-26; Jos. 1:8; Ps. 1:3-4). To be led by the Spirit one must live in obedience to all that is commanded to Christian living and behaviour in the Word of God – not to make decisions and then claimed to be led by the Spirit in them. God will not make our decisions for us, but can give us clarity when we know Him in our choices (Pro. 3:3-7).

‘The sons of God’ even so, we were children under bondage to the law until Christ came to redeem us from the law, that we might become adopted sons of God and free from the law (Gal. 4:3-7). Sons by adoption (8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5), not by begetting as in the case of Christ, who is the only begotten Son of God (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18).

The Things of the Spirit

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Romans 8:4-5 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 

‘Walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’ by the walk of Christ in real flesh and yet without sin, He condemned sin in all flesh and made a way whereby no flesh had to continue in sin (6:1-23; 8:1-13; 2Cor. 5:17-18; 10:4-6; Gal. 5:16-26).

‘Mind’ [Greek: phroneo] set affections on. Those who set their affections on the sins of the flesh of Galatians 5:19-21; 1Corinthians 6:9-11; Colossians 3:5-10; Romans 1:29-32; Mark 7:19-21 will naturally fulfil them (Jas. 1:13-15). Those who set their affections on the things of the Spirit of Galatians 5:22-23; 1Corinthians 12:4-11; Colossians 3:12-14 will naturally fulfil them and such will not commit sin.

Many reasons are given in Romans that we should not continue living in sin: Death to sin nullifies it (6:2-3); resurrection from spiritual death (6:4-5); we walk in newness of life (6:4); death to sin and resurrection from sin means walking like Christ (6:5; 1Pet. 2:21-22; 1Jn. 2:6; 4:6, 17); the old man is crucified and dead (6:6; Eph. 4:22-24; 1Jn. 5:18); the body of sin is destroyed, that henceforth we should not sin (6:6); we are freed from sin (6:7, 18, 22); faith counts sin dead (6:8); sin has no dominion over us (6:9); sin not to reign in the body (6:12); the body must not yield to sin (6:13); married to Christ, not sin (7:4); we walk in the Spirit (8:1-4); we are made free from the law of sin (8:2); we are spiritually minded (8:6); Christ is in us, not sin (8:10); we are not debtors to sin (8:12); the Spirit mortifies sin in us (8:13); we have Spirit of freedom (8:15); intercession of Christ and the Holy Spirit keeps us (8:26-27, 34).

No Condemnation

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Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 

‘Now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus’ this proves that the experience of Romans 7:7-24 was not Paul’s at the time of the writing of Romans, for several reasons: Paul had no condemnation (8:1); Paul was free from the law of sin (8:2); Paul was free from eternal death (8:2); Paul’s sin condemned in his flesh (8:3); Paul was fulfilled righteousness (8:4); Paul had life and peace (8:6); Paul was Spirit-filled (8:9-11); Paul’s body was dead to sin (8:10); Paul’s flesh was crucified (8:12-13); Paul was walking in the Spirit and not after the flesh (8:1-4; Gal. 5:16-26).

‘In Christ Jesus’ we find many blessings in Christ: Redemption (Rom. 3:24; 1Cor. 1:30); freedom from condemnation (Rom. 8:1); spirit of life (Rom. 8:2); love of God (Rom. 8:39; 1Tim. 1:14); truth (Rom. 9:1); unity (Rom. 12:15; Gal. 3:28); faith (Acts 24:24; 1Tim. 3:13); sanctification (1Cor. 1:2, 30); wisdom (1Cor. 1:30; 4:10); righteousness (1Cor. 1:30); begetting (1Cor. 4:15); hope (1Cor. 15:19); security in death (1Cor. 15:18); resurrection (1Cor. 15:1-58; 1Thess. 4:1-18); joy (1Cor. 15:31); establishment in God (2Cor. 1:21); triumph (2Cor. 2:14); the uncorrupted Word (2Cor. 2:17); the law abolished (2Cor. 3:6-15); being a new creation (2Cor. 5:17-18); simplicity (2Cor. 11:3); liberty (Gal. 2:4); all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3); power (Eph. 1:20); heavenly places (Eph. 2:6); nearness to God (Eph. 2:13); eternal purpose (Eph. 3:11); self-humbling (Php. 3:14); higher calling (Php. 3:14); perfection (Col. 1:28); eternal life (2Tim. 1:11); grace (2Tim. 2:1); salvation (2Tim. 2:10) and preservation (Jude 1:1).

‘Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death’ there are eight laws mentioned in Romans: the Law of Moses (2:12; 3:19; 7:12); the law of nature (2:14-15); the law of faith (3:27; 4:3-5, 11-24); the law of the mind (7:16, 21, 23); the law of sin (8:2, 23, 25); the law of righteousness (9:31); the law of God (7:22, 25); the law of the Spirit of life, that is, the Holy Spirit that works through the redemption of Christ to make free from, and to cancel the law of sin and death in all who are in Christ (8:2).

God through Jesus Christ

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Romans 7:21-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

‘Law’ – this is the law of the mind, which consents to the law of God (7:16, 21, 23).

‘Law of God’ – this is the law of Moses of Romans 7:1-16. ‘Inward man’ refers to the spirit of man which knows (1Cor. 2:11; 2Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3:16) and which is immortal (1Pet. 3:4). It also takes in the soul, that is, the seat of the feelings, emotions, and desires, for Paul not only knew and willed to do the will of God, but he delighted in it (cp. Ps. 1:2).

‘Another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members’ the law of sin (7:23, 25; 8:2). That law is stronger than the law of the mind, for it captures man regardless of the protest of the law of the mind (7:23, 25). This victory is not occasional, but complete (7:24).

‘O wretched man that I am!’ this is not a picture of a redeemed soul, but of a captive of sin. Every statement in this chapter proves that this was Paul’s experience while bound by sin under the law and before he was freed from the law of sin and death, as in Romans 8:1-4. His testimony indicates deliverance was after the three days of blindness at Damascus (Acts 9:17-18). The experience must have been during these three days for he had lived in all good conscience before this (Acts 23:1; Gal. 1:13-14; Php. 3:6). In the new enlightened state of these three days, he saw that he had not really kept the law, saw that he was a helpless slave to sin and could not obey it as it should be kept. Hence, his conclusion of wretchedness.

‘The body of this death’ – there is an allusion here to the ancient custom of tyrants who bound a dead body to a living man, requiring him to carry it about until he died of contagion from the putrid mass.

‘I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord’ This is the answer to Romans 7:24. Jesus Christ is the only deliverer from sin (1:16; 10:9-10; Matt. 1:21; 1Jn. 1:9).

‘So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin’ – this is a misplaced conclusion which has caused many false doctrines to be taught. It should follow Romans 7:23 as the conclusion of the whole argument. It is not only the logical conclusion, but it starts out with the Greek: ara and oun, therefore. It means, “to conclude, the sum of what I have said,” etc. Many have used these words to prove Paul himself was not saved from sin. This would contradict all the arguments of Romans up to this point and what follows. He proves both before and after this that there is complete victory over the law of sin (1:16-18; 2:8-11; 3:5-8, 24-31; 4:1-24; 5:1-11; 6:1-23; 8:1-13).

No Good Thing

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Romans 7:15-20 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 

‘For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I’ After showing in Romans 7:7-14 that sin is more powerful than the law, Paul now shows that sin is more powerful than man who is a slave to sin (7:15-25). This verse is not to be used as an excuse to sin because we cannot help it! It states that when you are under sin, you will do things that you hate and will not be in control as long as you yield to a sinful nature. Christ has defeated sin and we have no excuse to stay in a sinful state. Not even the Old Testament saints yielded to sin after being freed from it as we can see in a summary of Hebrew 11.

‘I allow not’ – I do not approve of my slavery to sin.

‘What I would, that do I not’ – what I wish to practice, I cannot, for I am an unwilling slave to sin.

‘If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good’ – If I am forced to do what I do not want to do, then it is not I, but sin that enslaves by its indwelling power (7:16-20).

‘Will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not’ – I have a will, but it is so overpowered by the lusts of sin that I am helpless. My passion is stronger than my reason. My will, reason, understanding, and my conscience are on God’s side and consent to His will and law, but my slavemaster will not consent for me to serve God or His law.

In Newness of Spirit

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Romans 7:6-8 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shall not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 

‘But now we are delivered from the law’ – in Christ we are delivered from the law which condemned us for sins but made no provision for pardon and gave no power to obey it.

‘That being dead wherein we were held’ we were dead in sins while under the law and held helpless to free ourselves from its bondage and death.

‘Oldness of the letter’ – we see that the law merely typifies the gospel, and can only be fulfilled by the gospel. We serve God now, not in the old literal sense of forms and rituals, but in the true spiritual meaning.

 ‘What shall we say then? Is the law sin?’ The law itself is not sinful in demanding me to live right. The law only makes known what sin really is (3:20; 4:15; 7:7; 1Jn. 3:4).

‘Thou shall not covet’ quoted here and in Romans 13:9 from Exodus 20:17.

‘Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence’ Sin is here pictured as a self-acting spirit which at one time controlled Paul and worked in him all manner of concupiscence or sinful lusts. It used the coming of the commandment as an occasion to assert its control over his life not letting him obey the law. Sin was not active before the law came for it had no reason to assert its power until then. But as soon as the commandment came forbidding certain things, sin came to life and by its lusts made him break the law so that he would have to pay the death penalty (7:8-9). ‘Concupiscence’ [Greek epithumia] means any strong or vehement desire. It is used of good desires a few times, but mainly of evil and depraved lusts. It is translated “desire” (Luke 2:15; Php. 1:23; 1Thess. 2:17); “concupiscence” (7:8; Col. 3:5; 1Thess. 4:5); and “lust” 31 times (1:24; John 8:44; Eph. 2:3; etc.).

Dead to the Law

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Romans 7:1-5 Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 

‘Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?’ In Romans 6:1-23 the obligations of all people to live a holy life was set forth. In Romans 7:1-25 it shows that the Jew is freed from all obligation to law keeping and shows why the law is helpless to deliver any man from sin and hell.

‘Be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband’ death breaks all marriage bonds.

‘Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead’ Here it is stated that Jews are dead to the law because Christ has fulfilled its types and prophecies and abolished it, so they can be married to Him and produce fruit.

‘Body of Christ’ – the body of Christ in sacrifice, not the congregations (Eph. 1:23; Col. 1:18, 24).

‘That we should bring forth fruit unto God’ referring to the fruit of John 15:16.

‘For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death’ – when we were in the flesh and carnal program of the law (Heb. 9:10), the passions of sin worked in our members by the law and produced sins that the law had to condemn to death. This is explained fully in Romans 7:7-25.

‘In the flesh’ – meaning living in sin (8:8-9).

‘By the law’ the motions of sins acted contrary to the law and were made exceedingly sinful by the law and that condemned them (7:13). The law was the means of disclosing how sinful we were.

The Wages of Sin

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Romans 6:20-23 For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

‘For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness’ it is emphasized here the fact that a man cannot be a saint and a sinner; holy and sinful; and cannot serve God and satan, or be a servant of sin and righteousness at the same time (Matt. 6:24).

‘Fruit’ used here to refer to good and evil results (6:21-22; 7:4-5; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 5:9; Php. 1:11, 22; 4:17; Heb. 12:11).

‘Things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death’ – Sin has two main results: Present shame and emptiness (6:21); and future, eternal death and hell, the end of a life of sowing to the flesh (6:21-23; 8:13; Gal. 6:7-8; Rev. 20:6, 10-15).

‘Now being made free from sin’ – now, in the present life people are free from sin in Christ (2Cor. 5:17-18).

‘Become servants to God’ a change in masters means a change in service (Matt. 6:24).

‘You have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life’ – Righteousness has two main results: Present holiness of life (6:22); and future and eternal life, the end of a life of sowing to the Spirit (6:22-23; 8:13; Gal. 6:7-8).

‘Wages’ [Greek: opsonion] meaning recompense or wages. Divine justice is under obligation to give sinners their wages or be in debt to them forever (Luke 12:5; Rev. 20:11-15).

The present state of all men outside of Christ is that of being depraved, polluted and corrupt in all his nature. His understanding is darkened (Eph. 2:3; 4:18); his conscience defiled (Heb. 10:22); his will obstinate and rebellious (Rom. 8:7); his affections carnal and sensual (Eph. 2:1-3; Gal. 5:19-21; Mark 7:19-21; Rom. 1:18-32; 1Cor. 6:9-11); his thoughts evil continually (Gen. 6:5; 2Cor. 10:4-5); his heart full of abominations (Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:19-21; Rom. 1:18-32); and his life and conduct devoted to living in divers lusts and pleasures of all kinds (1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18-32). He is a “servant of sin” (John 8:34); “unrighteous” (1Cor. 6:9-11; Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:1-3); “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1-9); “alienated from God” by wicked works (Col. 1:20-22); “separated” from God by his sins (Isa. 59:2); “without hope, and without God” in the world (Eph. 2:11-13;4:13-32; Rom. 3:9-25); blind to the truth (2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 4:18); lustful (Eph. 2:3); and doomed to eternal death and Hell (Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8; Jude 1:7; Isa. 66:22-24).

‘Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ’ eternal life is a free gift (5:15-18; Eph. 2:8-9; John 10:28). People merit hell, but not eternal life. Jesus Christ alone procured it and gives it freely to all who believe (John 3:16; 6:27; Rom. 3:24).

Servants to Righteousness

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Romans 6:15-19 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 

‘Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey’ millions today have not learned these simple facts: that you cannot be a servant of sin and satan and a servant of righteousness and Christ at the same time; that if you commit sin you are a servant of sin and satan (John 8:34; 1Jn. 3:8) and not a Christian; that if you sin, satan is your master and not Christ and that sin is the service of satan and righteousness is the service of God.

‘But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart’ the question here is what is God to be thanked for? That you are not saved from sin or that you are?

‘Form of doctrine which was delivered you’ this refers to the gospel truths Paul is here making clear by his arguments. Here Christianity is pictured as a mould or die, into which people are cast, and from which they are stamped with the image of God and of Christ, and are made the holiness of God by the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 6:11; 2Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:24). They are cast into the mould of doctrine and the Word of God is stamped on the heart (2Cor. 3:1-3).

‘Free’ [Greek: eleutheroo] set free. ‘Servants’ [Greek: douloo] to make a slave or servant.

‘Manner of men’ [Greek: anthropinos] Greek writers often used it to signify what was easy to understand. It means the opposite of the loftiness of poets and the sublime obscurity of philosophers.

‘Infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness’ – because of the weakness of your flesh. As you have yielded your physical members to sin and uncleanness, you must now do likewise to righteousness and holiness (6:19-20). ‘Holiness’ [Greek: hagiasmos] Christians are commanded to be perfect in holiness in body and spirit (6:19, 22; Luke 1:75; 2 Cor. 7:1; Ephes. 4:24; 1Thes. 3:13; 4:7; Heb. 12:10-14). Such is possible in Christ (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:17-18). Ten facts are given on Christians and holiness: Christians are created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephes. 4:24); they are commanded to live in holiness before God all their days (6:19; Luke 1:75; Heb. 12:14); they must bring forth fruit unto holiness (Rom. 6:22); they must perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7:1); must have hearts unblameable in holiness before God (1Thess. 3:13); they are called to holiness (1Thess. 4:7); they must continue in holiness to be blessed (1Tim. 2:15); they must govern lives according to holiness (Tit. 2:3); they must be partakers of holiness (Heb. 12:10); they must follow holiness, without which no man shall see God (Heb. 12:14).

Yield Yourselves unto God

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Romans 6:12-14 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield you 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. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. 

‘Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body’ – here sin is pictured as a king or a tyrant, who has the soul passions, spirit faculties, and physical members of man under control, dominating his life. Let him not work or reign in the mortal body; give him no place or grounds for working in your being. Sin does not rule or ruin; sin rules and ruins. Wherever sin is, it will have more or less dominion.

‘Obey it in the lusts thereof’ – obey sin in its lusts. This further proves sin to be a real spiritual person ruling life. Sin itself has lusts other than the lusts of man. The lusts of sin are in reality the lusts of satan (John 8:44; Eph. 2:2-3; 1Jn. 2:17; 3:8). The lusts of man are his own creative powers depraved and corrupt (Jas. 1:14; 4:1, 3; 2Tim. 4:3; 1Pet. 4:2). They make up the basic Adamic nature. The same faculties that yield to sin can likewise yield to God and commit holy acts (6:13, 16, 18-20, 22; 8:1-13; Col. 3:5-10).

‘Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin’ it is not sin to be tempted; the sin is in yielding (Jas. 1:13-15). While sin exists as satanic solicitation, it is satan’s lust and sin, not ours. When we yield, we make the Devil’s sin our own. The one tempted should obey James 4:7; 1Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 4:27. When man refuses, regardless of how strong the temptation is, no sin is possible (1Jn. 3:4; Jas. 1:13-15).

‘But yield yourselves unto God’ yield your will to God. Satan cannot force your will, and God will not, so the safe and normal thing is to will to do God’s will. ‘Instruments’ [Greek: hoplon] meaning weapons.

‘Sin shall not have dominion over you’ God delivers from sin at the new birth (2Cor. 5:17-18; 1Jn. 3:9; 5:1-4, 18), so if you become subject to it again, it is because of your choice (6:13).

‘For you are not under the law, but under grace’ you are not under the law that demands obedience, without giving power to obey. You are under grace that demands the same strict obedience to God, but gives free pardon for sins committed, not free to continue therein; and power to obey God in all things.