What does "not under the law" mean for Christians?

Definition and Scope of “Law”

The term “law” in Scripture typically refers to the commands and regulations given to Israel through Moses (often called the Mosaic Law). These commands served the nation in several ways: defining ethical behavior, providing a system of worship, and distinguishing Israel from surrounding nations (e.g., Leviticus and Deuteronomy). In the New Testament era, the phrase “not under the law” emerges prominently, especially in the letters of Paul. Romans 6:14 reads, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

In understanding what “not under the law” means, it is essential to remember that the term “law” can carry varying nuances depending on the context. Sometimes it can refer specifically to the ritual and sacrificial system of ancient Israel, while in other contexts it can refer more broadly to the entire Mosaic covenant. Knowledge of the Old Testament background, combined with a thorough look at New Testament passages, gives a full picture of how believers relate to this law today.

The Old Covenant and Its Purpose

The Mosaic Law laid the foundation for Israel’s worship, morality, and civil structure. It included moral commands (e.g., prohibitions against murder or stealing), ceremonial commands (e.g., Sabbath practices, festival observances, sacrificial offerings), and civil regulations (e.g., guidelines for governance in ancient Israel).

Under this covenant, God showed the holiness required of His people: “You shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy” (Leviticus 20:26). Yet, Scripture repeatedly demonstrates that people were unable to uphold the Law perfectly. This pointed to humankind’s need for something greater—ultimately, a perfect redeemer. As Paul reasons in Galatians 3:24, “So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

Christ’s Fulfillment of the Law

Jesus Himself stated, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). This aspect of fulfillment indicates that the requirements and demands of the Mosaic Law find their ultimate completion in Christ’s sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection. Because He perfectly fulfilled and satisfied the righteous requirements of the Law, He initiated a New Covenant (Luke 22:20).

Following His atoning sacrifice, believers are no longer bound by the ceremonial and sacrificial components of the Mosaic Law. These pointed forward to Christ’s redemptive work. By fulfilling these aspects, He has freed His followers from the yoke of the Law’s sacrificial demands (Hebrews 10:1–10). The moral principles rooted in God’s character remain significant, but the believer’s relationship to these commands changes because of grace.

“Not Under the Law” in Paul’s Teaching

1. Romans 6:14, 15. “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace…What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”

Paul contrasts living under the Mosaic covenant, which brings awareness of sin, with living under God’s grace through Christ. Though believers are free from its strict and penal demands, this freedom does not license sinful behavior.

2. Galatians 5:18. “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Here, believers are depicted as governed by the Holy Spirit rather than by the written code of the Torah. As the Spirit directs and empowers, the righteous behavior demanded by the Law is now produced from within by God’s transformative power, rather than enforced externally.

Freedom from the Curse and Penalty

The Law, because of human sin, brought condemnation (Romans 8:1–2). Yet Christ took the curse of the Law by dying on the cross: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). This transaction means that the punishment once warranted by transgressions of the Law no longer applies to those who place their faith in Him.

Being “not under the law” includes freedom from the system that demanded atonement through repeated sacrifices, along with its prescribed penalties. This is supremely relevant to the question of guilt and condemnation—for those who trust in Jesus, the condemnation that the Law pronounced on sin is removed.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Under the New Covenant, believers are not without guidance. The Holy Spirit indwelling believers creates awareness of God’s will (Romans 8:3–4). Thus, the moral excellence once commanded is now created from within by divine power. As a result, believers fulfill the “righteous requirement of the Law” (Romans 8:4), not by adhering to external legal demands, but by walking according to the Spirit.

This internal transformation was anticipated in Old Testament prophecy: “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances” (Ezekiel 36:27). In the New Testament, this is realized through Christ’s finished work and the subsequent gift of the Spirit.

Moral Law vs. Ceremonial Law

It is helpful to recognize that many interpreters distinguish between the moral laws—timeless commands reflecting God’s character—and the ceremonial or civic regulations specific to Israel’s context. While Christ’s work fulfilled the entire Law, the moral standards that reveal God’s holiness continue to resonate in the New Testament (Romans 13:8–10; 1 Peter 1:15–16).

However, believers no longer observe the sacrificial rituals or priestly ordinances designed for ancient Israel’s worship. Instead, they celebrate the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 7:27). This distinction underlines the freedom from ritual obligations but also underscores that holiness remains an imperative.

Practical Implications for Christian Living

1. Assurance of Salvation. Believers can rest in the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice. They need not labor under the uncertainty of never measuring up (Romans 8:1).

2. Pursuit of Holiness. Although released from the Law’s ceremonial constraints, the spiritual and moral core persist. Christians live uprightly not to earn acceptance but as grateful response to grace (Titus 2:11–12).

3. Relationship vs. Regulation. The New Covenant fosters a relationship with God that goes beyond rule-keeping. Faith in Christ transforms the heart to genuinely desire God’s ways (2 Corinthians 3:3).

4. Unity in the Church. The early church wrestled with whether Gentile believers should adopt Jewish customs and observances (Acts 15). The consensus was clear: Gentiles are not held to the Mosaic rituals. This principle helped unite Jewish and Gentile believers as one body in Christ (Ephesians 2:14–16).

Archaeological and Historical Corroboration

Findings such as the Dead Sea Scrolls have shown remarkable consistency with the Old Testament texts, illustrating that the Law and Prophets were meticulously preserved. This supports confidence that the words Paul referenced when addressing “the Law” have remained consistent over millennia.

Moreover, first-century inscriptions, synagogue remains, and early church gathering sites demonstrate how early believers moved from temple-centered worship and sacrificial systems to house fellowships centered around the resurrected Messiah. They understood themselves to be, in practice, “not under the law” but under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, grounded in Christ’s finished work.

A Balanced Perspective

Being “not under the law” means that the binding, penal aspects of the Mosaic covenant no longer apply to those in Christ. Yet believers still seek to reflect God’s righteous nature. As Paul insisted, “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15). Instead, believers fulfill the deeper intention of God’s commands through the leading of the Holy Spirit and the transforming grace of Christ’s work.

Thus, to say “not under the law” is not to abandon moral responsibility. Rather, it is to embrace a Spirit-led life that delights in showing gratitude to God for His redemption. This new relationship, founded upon the resurrection of Christ, opens the way to live in victory over sin—no longer shackled by the impossibility of earning acceptance through external regulations, but freed to serve God lovingly and wholeheartedly.

Conclusion

When Scripture declares that believers are “not under the law,” it signals the shift from the Old Covenant—with its repetitive sacrifices, ceremonial observances, and condemnation for failure—to the New Covenant of grace sealed by Christ’s death and resurrection. This liberation releases believers from the burden and penalty of the Law, enabling them to live through the power of the Holy Spirit who inscribes God’s righteousness upon their hearts.

The Mosaic Law’s moral truths still teach believers about God’s character, yet Christians relate to those truths through grace rather than through fear of judgment. Under this grace, lived out in the Spirit, believers aspire to holiness because they have first been made children of God through faith in Christ. This fullness of grace and truth is the essence of “not under the law”—a life set free to love God and neighbor in the power of the Holy Spirit.