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Are Christians under the law ?

The best way to address this question is to expound on several scriptures in the book of Romans where the apostle Paul writes on this subject.

I speak to those who know the Law; that the law has dominion over a man only as long as he lives? (for example) A married woman is bound by the law of marriage as long as her husband lives. But if her husband dies, she is freed from that law of marriage. You also have become dead to the law, through the body of Christ so that you should be married to Another, even to Him raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to God. So now having been set free from the Law that held us captive. We now serve in newness of the spirit and not in oldness of the letter of the law, Romans 7:1-6.

Is the law then sin, since it keeps us from Christ?

Certainly not! For I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For when the Law was put into effect, sin sprang to life, (the very Law that was intended to bring forth life, actually brought forth death). For sin seized the opportunity, aided by the law, deceiving me and put me to death. So the law is holy and good, for without the law, we would not have known sin and there would have been no need for repentance and coming to Christ. So the law is holy, because it actually brings us to Christ. Romans 7:7-12.

Why was the law then given?

The law was given to us that we might see our sinful nature, having need for a Savior. The law was not given to us so that we would be able to keep it and live. If we had to live within the law, the 10 commandments, plus many other laws, all of us would fail. When we believe on Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have died to our old sinful nature and have put on the new nature of the Spirit. I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, Galatians 5:16.

Why should we even try to keep the Law, when we know we can't?

If we deliberately live in sin, we will reap the effects of sin. If we try to abide by the law, (having no condemnation when we fail). We minimize the effects of sin and live in a greater degree of God's blessings. We do not gain blessings and favor with God by striving to keep the law, however by trying to live a holy righteous life we keep our conscious from condemning us.

We are under grace and not the law!

All who believe in Christ Jesus are under grace. Enjoy the free gift that He has given to us. Do not attempt to mix select things of the Law and grace together, for the two do not mix they are like water and oil. Jesus spoke of this in the parable of the new ways vs old ways.

click here for further scriptures on grace vs the law.