The following is a brief summary of the longer article –
In the Old Covenant a person could be in the law of God (This refers to a physically circumcised follower of God) or outside of it (This refers to a physically uncircumcised person who has not chosen to follow God).
In the Old Covenant a person who wanted to follow God had to rely on the Mosaic Law.
If they followed the Law of God they would live, Rm 10:5.
Keep the Law of God in the Old Covenant = Live
In the Old Covenant if a follower of God disobeyed the Law of God they effectively placed themselves “Under the authority of the Law of Moses” or “Under the Law”.
Disobey the Law of God in the Old Covenant = Under the Law of Moses
This meant that they had to then offer the appropriate sacrifices to be forgiven of their Sins.
In the New Covenant a follower of God has had their Heart Circumcised (the Fleshly desires are removed from the Heart) and those who choose not to follow God through Christ do not live, Rm 2:12.
In the New Covenant a follower of God has their heart circumcised. Jesus also introduced Grace, and the Grace of God teaches a person us to deny ungodliness, Titus 2:11-12. The instruction of Grace was not available in the Old Covenant.
Ro 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye (obedient followers of Christ) are not under the law, but under grace.
Obey the Law of God in the New Covenant = Live and be Under Grace
Disobey the Law of God in the New Covenant = Under the Law of Christ
This means that that the authority over us is the Law of Christ and we have to confess our sin to Jesus for forgiveness.
Now to the detailed article –
The phrase “Under the Law” can be a source of misunderstanding.
Some think that Romans 6:14 means that a Christian does not have to obey God’s Law.
This is incorrect.
Ro 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (RSV)
Christians must always keep God’s law.
All Christians are “In” the Law of God, Romans 2:12.
Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (KJV)
Jesus summarized the law of God in Matt 22:37-40.
Matt 22:37 KJV ¶ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Paul also explained this concept of keeping the Law of God in Rm 13:9.
Rm 13:9 RSV The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
A Christian can either be under Law or Grace.
Sin dominates a person who is “under the Law” according to Romans 6:14.
Romans 6:14 KJV — For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This concept is explained in Romans 3:19.
The Apostle Paul defines the phrase “Under the Law” as referring to a guilty person.
Romans 3:19 KJV — Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are “under the law” that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
A person who is guilty of breaking God’s Law is “Under the Law”.
In both the Old and New Covenants there are penalties for breaking the Law of God. In the Old Covenant Moses instructed people how to be forgiven (By sacrifice). In the New Covenant Jesus teaches us how to be forgiven (By confession, 1 Jn 1:9). Jesus also introduced the grace of God (Titus 2:11-12) which teaches us how to deny ungodliness (sin) and not incur judgment in the first place.
The authority over them ,as a guilty person (in the Old Covenant), had become the Mosaic law and it’s penalties, 1 Tim 1:9.
Under the Mosaic law a sacrifice was required for forgiveness. Under the New Covenant simple confession of the sin is required. God’s Law is still in effect however the way to be forgiven has changed from making a sacrifice to Confession to Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:9 KJV — Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
On the other hand – God’s grace is the authority over the person who keeps God’s law.
That person has not become subject to the laws penalties for disobedience.
They cooperate with the teachings of God’s grace and do what is right, and live a Godly life.
Titus 2: 11¶For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
When reading the bible on these topics it should be remembered that the phrase “works of the Law” does not refer to obeying the law of God. The phrase generally refers to the “works” of the Mosaic Law necessary to obtain forgiveness for breaking God’s law.
The phrase refers to performing the “works” that the Mosaic Law specified in order to be right in Gods eyes. Whether these works are physical circumcision (a shadow of circumcision of the heart) or making animal sacrifices to obtain forgiveness (a shadow or confessing sin to Jesus for forgiveness).
Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
When a person puts their faith in Jesus, they become accountable to the law of God and they are “in the Law”.
2 Corinthians 3:6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones…
The Mosaic Law can not give or impart life. Its letters can only condemn sinners when God’s Law is violated. The imparting of life requires the imparting of grace, (Introduced through Jesus in the New Covenent) which teaches a person to abstain from ungodliness, (Titus 2:11-12). Man is not capable of teaching abstinence from sin (Eph 2:8 ), and God’s grace will only teach a humble person to abstain from sin, James 4:6.
Ga 3:21 Is the (Mosaic) law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Jesus introduced the Grace of God which teaches us and imparts life to us, Titus 2:11-12.
Ro 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law (apart from God’s Law) shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law (Christians are in the Law – Having accepted the covenant) shall be judged by the law;
An unbeliever who is alive but “without the Law” or outside of the Law of God is destined to perish.
A person is not judged by God’s if they are unbelievers and have not accepted the Covenant in Christs Blood, Romans 5:13.
Ro 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
This is explains the misleading saying – why do Bad things happen to “Good People”. First of all – bad things do not happen to Good people – because only one is good, Matthew 10:18.
Also consider that a believer is judged by God according to the Covenant of Love, and in accordance to their obedience to the commandments of God.
God does not judge unbelievers by the Law of God or obedience to it because they have not accepted the covenant. God is fair, and person is not judged by a covenant they are not aware of.
All Christians are “in the Law” of God, being either obedient or disobedient. Being in the Law and “obeying it” means being subject to or under the authority of grace and cooperating with it by abstaining from ungodliness.
Being in the law and “disobeying it” means being under the authority of the Law (either the Mosaic Law or the Law of Christ), Rm 3:19 and Gal 6:2.
Ga 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Christians who are “under the Law” have sinned and violated the law of Love. The Law has become the authority over them and they are subject to its disciplinary process, Mt 18:23-34. They will be chastened accordingly, and then released so they will not be condemned, 1 Cor 11:32. A Christian should learn not to sin or they will have to repeat this judgment process.
2 Cor 3:8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. The ministry of the Spirit is a ministry of righteousness. Man’s ministry involves distributing or becoming a steward of God’s Grace (1Pet 4:10). Teaching a person to cooperate with grace and live in a righteous manner, or to do what is right in God’s eyes.
Since God’s grace teaches us to abstain from ungodliness, Christian Ministry becomes the distribution of that ability.
In summary then –
A person can be in the law of God (This refers to a follower of God) or outside of it (This refers to a person who has not chosen to follow God), Romans 2:12.
In the Old Covenant a person who wanted to follow God had to rely on the Mosaic Law. If they followed the Law of God they would live, Rm 10:5.
Keep the Law of God in the Old Covenant = Live
Ro 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
In the Old Covenant if a follower of God disobeyed the Law of God they effectively placed themselves “Under the authority of Law of Moses” or “Under the Law”.
Disobey the Law of God in the Old Covenant = Under the Law of Moses
This meant that they had to then offer the appropriate sacrifices to be forgiven of the Sin.
Obey the Law of God in the New Covenant = Under Grace
Disobey the Law of God in the New Covenant = Under the Law of Christ
This means they have to Confess sin to Jesus for forgiveness