“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.” (Romans 7:6)
I am indebted to the theologian John Stott for my understanding of Romans 7. In Romans 7, Paul struggles with the place of the law in God’s purpose. Paul addresses three approaches to God’s law:
- Legalism – you have to obey the law. Legalists fear the law and are enslaved to it.
- Antinomianism – you just ignore the law completely. Antinomianists hate the law and renounce it.
- Law-fulfilling freedom – you don’t count on keeping the law to make you right with God, but you love God’s law and enjoy following it because you love God.
The problem that we have in this life is not God’s law. God’s law is good. God’s law shows us what sin is. God’s law shows us what holiness looks like. However, our problem is that sin within us, because of its depravity, is aroused and provoked by the law. The law cannot save us because we cannot keep the law. And we cannot keep the law because of indwelling sin.
Does the law have any place for Christians? No and yes. No, in that the law cannot empower us to live a holy life. Yes in that Christian freedom is freedom to serve, not freedom to sin. As Christians, we are still slaves. But our slavery is to God and righteousness. We serve because of love not fear. We do not serve the law that says, “You must!” Instead we serve Christ who is called our husband. We want to serve. We get to serve. We serve not because obedience leads to salvation but because salvation leads to obedience. “We serve in the new way of the Spirit,” (verse 6). It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that is the primary and distinguishing characteristic of the new age, and therefore also, of the new life in Christ.
Which of the three approaches to God’s law best describes you? If you answered either 1 or 2, perhaps it’s time for a change.
upword 
Reblogged this on Faith.