Romans 7.1-13 Rules versus Grace

Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? ...Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death...What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, " you  shall not  covet ." But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead...for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.  Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.Romans 7:1‭-‬13 NASB

 It is clear that this passage was written to Jewish believers who followed the Law of Moses. It applies equally to non-Jewish believers. The law can represent any religious system of rules and rituals. If you follow a moral code that says, "You Must..." or "You Must Not..." then you are under that law.

I was saved in the 1970's in a denomination that taught - at the time - that dancing, going to a movie, and going to the beach (where there might be people of the opposite sex in bathing suits) were all sins. Anyone who was under those rules (that law), and did any of those things sinned by violating their conscience.

Fast forward to 2019, and the churches that I have seen no longer publish such rules. But we still have rules. For example, most churches that I'm aware of still teach tithing 10% of your income as prescribed under the law. If you are under that law, and tithe less than 10%, then you violate your conscience, and are sinning.

The principle holds true for any and all rules. Break just one, and you are condemned by your own law.

But, by identifying with Jesus' death and resurrection, we have died to the law. We are not under law, but under grace. We do not have to follow the rules!

So, does this mean you can do anything under the sun and never sin? Of course not! We haven't been set free from law so that we can give way to the flesh.

Rather, we are freed from the law, so that we can be joined with the Spirit of God. Where there is no law, there is freedom. In the Spirit, we are free to produce good fruit for God.

So, if there are no rules, how can there be right or wrong?

Let's look at Galatians 5.18-23 "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Basic logic applies. If what you are doing is a work of the flesh, then it is not of the Spirit of God. If you are in the Spirit, you will produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Don't think of the works of the flesh as rules, but as signposts. If you have an outburst of anger, it is a sign that you are not in the Spirit, but in the flesh. Quickly ask for forgiveness, and turn your mind back to God.

If, on the other hand, you are living an immoral lifestyle and stubbornly refuse to give it up, beware. You have placed yourself under the dominion of your own flesh instead of God. "Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

You need to turn away from your sinful lifestyle. Stop what you are doing! Turn to Jesus instead. Let the Spirit of God fill you and lead you. He will never lead you into a sinful lifestyle.

Learn to walk in the Spirit, and let Him teach you right from wrong.

If you are living out the fruit of the Spirit, don't be proud, but give thanks to God for His grace.