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

This verse is often cited as saying anyone with God’s Spirit no longer needs to obey God’s law given through Moses. Such an interpretation doesn’t seem to work when we consider some key prophecies.

“And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (Ezekiel 11:19-20)

“I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”” (Hebrews 10:16-17)

The law pronounces, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) To be under the law is to be under the condemnation of its eternal death penalty (see the section on Romans 6:14). Those led by the Spirit have been pardoned! Further, a dominant evidence of the Spirit is obedience to God’s law from the heart. The Spirit enables one to obey the law. (Romans 8:1-11)

  • Go Back

    Galatians 5:4 – “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”

  • Next

    Ephesians 2:14 – “…by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances…”