Under Which Law? How Romans 6–7 Defines the Christian’s Relationship to God’s Law

When the early church split over law, Paul wrote Romans.When modern churches split over law, pastors write Facebook posts.

The difference is clarity.

Romans 6–7 is the clearest, most surgical explanation in Scripture of what it means for Christians to be “not under the law”—and how that statement fits with everything Paul says about righteousness, holiness, sanctification, judgment, and obedience.

The confusion begins when the word law is treated as a single category.

Paul does not do that.

He is not rejecting law—he is distinguishing between laws.

And once those distinctions are seen, the entire passage becomes clear.

Ironically, the very chapter used by antinomians to reject God’s law is the chapter that destroys their position.Paul does not collapse “law” into one meaning. He separates them—again and again—until the reader can no longer confuse:

the Law of God with the law of sin and death

Romans 6–7 is not a demolition of God’s law.It is its vindication.

1. The Law of God

Paul speaks of the moral law—rooted in God’s character—with reverence, delight, and joy.This is the law he says Christians obey, serve, and love.

Watch how Paul describes it:

The Law of God in Romans 6–7:

• “the life He lives, He lives to God” (6:10)

• “present yourselves to God” (6:13)

• “slaves of righteousness for holiness” (6:19)

• “slaves of God… fruit to holiness” (6:22)

• “the law has dominion over a man” (7:1)

• “the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (7:12)

• “the law is spiritual” (7:14)

• “I delight in the law of God” (7:22)

• “with the mind I serve the law of God” (7:25)

  
  

Paul’s entire posture toward the Law of God is:

• holy

• good

• spiritual

• delightful

• authoritative

• formative

  
  

This is not a man who believes the moral law has been erased.This is a man who believes the Spirit empowers believers to obey it.

2. The Law of Sin

Paul also identifies a second “law”—a rival principle operating in fallen flesh.

This is the law we are freed from.This is the law that enslaves.This is the law that produces death.

The Law of Sin in Romans 6–7:

• “the body of sin” (6:6)

• “do not let sin reign” (6:12)

• “instruments of unrighteousness to sin” (6:13)

• “sin shall not have dominion over you” (6:14)

• “lawlessness leading to more lawlessness” (6:19)

• “the sinful passions… bearing fruit to death” (7:5)

• “sin that dwells in me” (7:17)

• “a law… evil is present with me” (7:21)

• “captivity to the law of sin” (7:23)

• “with the flesh the law of sin” (7:25)

  
  

Paul treats the law of sin as:

• slavery

• bondage

• corruption

• the old master

• the internal tyrant

• the source of death

  
  

This is the law we are freed from.This is the law we are no longer under.

3. The Law of Sin and Death

Closely related—but not identical—is what Paul elsewhere calls:

“the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2)

If the law of sin is the power of sin within,the law of sin and death is the condemning result of that power.

This is sin as:

• judge

• executioner

• condemning authority

  
  

This is the law that kills.

When Paul says:

“You are not under law but under grace” (6:14)

he is not saying we are free from God’s moral standard.

If Paul delights in the law of God, then “not under law” cannot mean freedom from that law.

He is saying we are no longer under:

• condemnation

• the curse

• the mastery of sin

• the rule of death

  
  

Grace does not abolish God’s law.Grace breaks the power of the law that condemns.

4. The Mosaic Law

Paul also refers to the Mosaic law as a covenantal administration.

This law is:

• holy

• good

• given by God

  
  

But it is:

• unable to justify

• tied to a covenantal structure that has changed

  
  

The Mosaic administration ended.The moral reality it revealed did not.

5. Why Confusion Happens

Most modern theology collapses all of these into one category.

So when people hear:

“We are not under law”

they assume:

• the law is bad

• moral obligation is gone

• holiness is optional

• righteousness is legalism

  
  

But Paul says the opposite.

He says:

• the law is holy

• the law is good

• the law is spiritual

• the law defines righteousness

• the inward man delights in it

• the believer serves it

  
  

The only law we are freed from is:the law of sin and death

6. Grace Does Not Destroy Law — Grace Creates Obedience

Grace does not remove obligation.Grace removes condemnation so that obedience becomes possible.

Paul describes the Christian life as:

• “slaves of righteousness” (6:18)

• “slaves of God” (6:22)

• “present your members to righteousness” (6:19)

• “bear fruit to holiness” (6:22)

• “serve the law of God” (7:25)

• “delight in the law of God” (7:22)

  
  

Grace changes your master, not your standard.

The law of sin is defeated so that the Law of God can be obeyed.

This is exactly what Jesus meant:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

7. The Lesson Paul Wanted the Church to Learn

Romans 6–7 teaches one truth with absolute clarity:

Christ frees us from the law of sin so that we can finally obey the Law of God.

Not to earn salvation—but because salvation restores us to the character of God.

This is why the regenerate mind says:

“I delight in the law of God.” (7:22)

This is why the regenerate will says:

“With the mind, I serve the law of God.” (7:25)

This is why sanctification is described as:

• righteousness

• holiness

• obedience

• fruit to God

• slavery to righteousness

• delight in the law

  
  

Romans 6–7 does not support antinomianism.It destroys it.

Because the problem was never:

“the law is bad”

The problem was:

“sin is bad—and sin used the law to kill me”

Christ defeats sin, not the moral law.

Romans 6–7 is not complicated once you see Paul’s distinctions.But if you collapse his categories, your theology will collapse with them.

Paul teaches:

• One law is holy

• One law is corrupt

• One law we obey

• One law we are freed from

• One law condemns

• One law sanctifies

  
  

Christians are not under the law of sin and death.They are under the Law of God—empowered by the Spirit, freed from condemnation, and conformed to Christ.

This is not legalism.This is Christianity.