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.

2 Corinthians 3:6

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6:14

When considering this question, it must be understood that it concerns our eternal state. The law is what condemns us, it is that which pronounced all men guilty and sentenced to death, eternal damnation. In this life, we are as all men required to keep the law of men in so far as it does not contradict the Scriptures.

Christ Jesus gave himself to pay the penalty the law required for every man. The penalty being the death and damnation of all men. The penalty being satisfied, all men are considered dead as far as the law is concerned. The law has no power over dead men. Jesus bought all men out from under the law of God and now owns the sin debt that men owed the law.

As great as the mercy, grace, and sacrifice extended to men it amounted to a simple business transaction. The law owed our sin debt and demanded payment. The law has no mercy or grace. Christ paid the debt off and ownership of the debt changed hands. This in and of itself did not save anyone from their sins. It opened the door to salvation. The new owner, God, Christ, can now have the mercy upon men that the law would not.

Salvation is a two-part system. The sin debt to the law of God had to be paid which was done en masse, all at once, now each individual must have their sins forgiven by God. The lack of understanding the two-part nature of the plan of salvation has given rise to many false teachings due to not being able to reconcile the supposed contradiction of how could Christ Jesus have died to pay for the sins of the whole world and the whole world not be saved? Realizing the two-part nature of salvation answers that question. Thus eliminating the necessity of manufacturing non-biblical functions such as universal salvation, limited atonement, or the loss of salvation.

Back to our question. We are dead to the letter of the law, hence all things are lawful for us as the law has no more power to condemn us.

Romans 8:1 KJV There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The meaning of Romans 8’s use of in the flesh or in the Spirit is the contrasting and comparison of the lost, in the flesh, as opposed to the saved, in the Spirit.

Romans 8:8-10 KJV So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

The application to individual saints living or walking correctly or not is an error.

The law having no power to condemn is the same as all things being lawful for us. Remember, we are speaking of its effect on our eternal salvation. We are free from the bondage of the Law, never knowing if we are good enough, or did we lose it? Living in this fear that we might or might not be saved. Not being able to be condemned regardless of what we do is our liberty in Christ, a very misunderstood biblical doctrine, once saved, always saved.

Galatians 5:1 KJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

All may be lawful “but” all is not good nor proper, “but” we will be judged for how we used this freedom.

1 Corinthians 10:23 KJV All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

There are a couple of “but’s” in the mix. We are to do only what is expedient to our purpose for being left after salvation to live out our lives. That purpose is to glorify God, preach the gospel, and help other saints to understand God’s word.

1 Corinthians 8:9 KJV But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Galatians 5:13 KJV For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

1 Peter 2:15-16 KJV For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

We are given the two precepts of the Spirit of the law to guide us.

Matthew 22:37-40 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. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

These two precepts or principles are all we need to live a lawful, holy, righteous, life. The love of God will restrain from doing anything that will be displeasing to him or bring disdain upon his name. To love others as yourself is to not do unto others what you would not want done to you and to do unto others as you would have done unto you. There are two sides to loving your neighbor: not to do harm to them at any time, and to render aid to them when they are in need.

So in answer to your question, no we are not in bondage to keep the letter of the law, but are required to keep the Spirit of the law.

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