The author totally agrees with Paul:What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Rom 6:15 ESV

The law will not go away until all is accomplished.

For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Matt 5:18 ESV

But Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for all who believe.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Rom 10:4 ESV

Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person 1 Tim 1:9a NAS

Sin only has dominion over those who are still under the law, not a believer who is under grace.

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Rom 6:14 ESV

Now unless you believe that a person living prior to the cross did not need to keep the Ten Commandments to be right with God, to be righteous, Romans 10:4 is telling us that Christ is the end of all of God’s law (for those who believe), including the Ten Commandments to be righteousness, right with God.

Paul wrote the following to believers.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Gal 3:23-26 ESV

Why must the law remain?

For unbelievers. To be their guardian, their schoolmaster and lead them to Christ as it states in Gal 3:23-26 above. Just like it did for us before we believed. Also, to protect all of us from each other’s fallen nature in this world,

Does this mean believers can sin? We should try our best to walk in love that fulfills the law, but we do sin all the time. Worry, fear and doubt are sins. Anything not of faith is sin.

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Rom 14:23b ESV

Trying to be right with God by the law is not of faith and therefore sin.

But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Gal 3:12 ESV

In the following verse, God placed fear and doubt at the top of the list for those who are still under the law. Thank goodness Christians are no longer under the law but under grace where sin is not imputed, because we often walk in doubt and fear.

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Rev 21:8 ESV

The only people declared righteous before God in the entire Bible were those declared righteous by faith in God. Those who do not flee to the savior for safety, the unbeliever, remain unrighteous before God.

Study: Only Way to be Righteous

But for those who by faith believe they are righteous by Christ finished work alone, not under the law as the Bible teaches; they are never even called sinners in the New Testament. Believers are never called by sinner sub-titles either: liar, thief, etc. 

Study: Believers are Never Called Sinners in the New Testament

Jesus Never Called a Believer a Hypocrite

Sin Does Not Make a Christian a Hypocrite

Even though there were plenty of sins in the church then and now.

Study: Is There Such Thing as a Violent Christian Drunkard?

Judging Others as We Want to Be Judged

Since believers are judged by grace and not the law, Jesus warns us about the measure we use to judge other people, including believers. He tells us the measure we use for others, is the measure he will use for us.

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Matt 7:2 ESV

Matt 18:21-35 is an example of what happens to the person who takes advantage of God’s kindness and grace and then judges men made in God’s image by the law instead of grace.

Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” Matt 18:32-35 ESV

In Gal 5:14, Paul gives a strong warning to those who think justification will come by the law.

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. Gal 5:14 ESV

We should not expect to be judged by grace if we are going to judge others by the law.

Should We Sin Because We Are Under Grace, Where Sin is Not Counted?

The question is should we sin? The answer is no.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Rom 6:1-2 ESV

When we do sin, is God counting our sins and will we be punished for our sin. The answer is no as Paul tells us over and over.

Study: A Christians Sins are NOT Counted Against Them,

Can a Christian Lose their Salvation by Sinning? NO, 

Sins Are NOT Counted Under Grace

Christians Have Diplomatic Immunity

God Forgets Our Sins For His Own Sake

What is the One Unforgivable Sin?

Christians are called to walk by the spirit. The spirit of all of God’s laws is love. Love is the only thing that fulfills all of God’s laws. To sin against another (steal, cheat lie, etc.) is not walking in love as God wants his children to do. Jesus modeled how we are to act with others.

“…who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 3:6 ESV). 

The phrase “the spirit of a law” means “the author’s intention for writing the letter of the law.” All of God’s laws have as their spirit /intent “love.” This tells us a lot about God’s character. He loves us and wants to protect and save us.

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Gal 5:14).

 “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom 13:8-10).

Study: Christians Are Not Under the Law of Moses, Our Standard is Much Higher

10 Commandments Are Not Gods Highest Standard

Keeping the Letter of Gods Law, Cannot Fulfill Gods Law

You Only Have Two Commandments Christian

Paul's Method for Talking to Christians Caught in Sin

Do you believe God’s word?

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Rom 10:4 ESV 

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