No — mankind has not always had the freedom that Christians have now.
Under law, Israel lived under a demanding legalistic system with severe penalties, such as death for Sabbath-breaking. Christians now are not under that law but under grace, and Romans 6:14 says sin shall not have dominion over them. Les Feldick stresses that this freedom is unique and is not license to sin.
Romans 6:14 — This is the key verse where Paul states that sin shall not have dominion over believers because they are not under the law but under grace.
Romans 6:15 — Paul immediately answers whether this freedom means sinning is permitted, showing grace does not mean license.
Paul draws a clear contrast in Romans 6 between being under the Law and being under grace. Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." The very next verse, Romans 6:15, asks, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." These verses make explicit that the believer's freedom is grounded in being under grace rather than under law, and they immediately guard that freedom against the misstep of treating it as permission to sin.
Les Feldick teaches that the Christian life is "the greatest life of freedom of anything the world has ever known" [Clip 0]. He explains that believers are not under Israel's legalistic system of priesthood, ritual, sacrifice, and stipulations: "We're not under that legalistic system. We're under grace, and that's as different as daylight is from dark" [Clip 1]. He contrasts that with the Law of Moses, which was severe — under the Law, picking up sticks on the Sabbath brought death by stoning [Clip 2]. In this age of grace, however, believers have "such intense liberty" that very few understand it [Clip 2]. Romans 6:14 is central to his teaching: old Adam, the old sin nature, shall not have dominion because the believer is not under the law but under grace [Clips 3, 4, 5]. Yet Les instantly qualifies this freedom: "Grace is never license" [Clip 4, Clip 7]. The believer is not freed to let the old Adam reign; rather, he is to serve in newness of spirit, led and guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit [Clips 6, 7].
Les says the difference is as great as daylight is from dark. Israel was under a legalistic system, but believers are not under that system. The Law said, "pick up sticks on the Sabbath day, and what's the result? Death by stoning." Under grace, believers have intense liberty. Romans 6:14-15 shows that because believers are not under the law but under grace, sin is not to have dominion over them — yet the freedom is not to be used for sin.
No. Romans 6:15 asks the very question: "shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?" and answers, "God forbid." Les Feldick is emphatic that grace is not license and is never licensed. Believers are no longer under the oldness of the letter but are to serve in newness of spirit, under the control of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
Les explains that the word "sin" in Romans 6:14 can be read as the old Adam, the old sin nature. The promise is that the old Adam shall not have dominion over the believer, because the believer is not under the law but under grace. Old Adam does not have to reign like a king; the believer can crucify the old nature and let grace, Christ, and the Holy Spirit reign. Les also notes that this does not mean the Ten Commandments are cast aside — they remain holy, perfect, and the mind of God.
A Life of Freedom
Les says the Christian life is the greatest life of freedom the world has ever known — a joyful, responsible life that does not require self-torture or poverty.
Law vs. Grace
Les contrasts being under Israel's legalistic system with being under grace, calling the difference as great as daylight and darkness.
The Law's Severe Demand
Les uses the Sabbath law — where gathering sticks brought death by stoning — to show how different law is from the intense liberty of grace.
Old Adam Not to Reign
Les teaches that old Adam, the old sin nature, does not have to reign over the believer because the believer is under grace rather than law.
Romans 6:14 in Plain Terms
Les restates Romans 6:14 to show believers are not under the ritual and stipulations of Israel's law, then stresses grace is not license.
Law and Grace Contrasted
Les connects Romans 3 and 6 to show that the old Adam has no dominion because the believer is not under the law but under grace.
Newness of Spirit
Les explains that believers are delivered from the law to serve in newness of the Spirit, controlled by the Holy Spirit and the Word, not the oldness of the letter.
Freedom Led by the Spirit
Les says believers are free from the stringent 'thou shalt / thou shalt not' demands, yet grace is never license; the Holy Spirit is the believer's guide.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This verse is the heart of the answer: the believer's freedom is grounded in being under grace rather than under law.
Romans 6:15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
This verse immediately guards the freedom of grace against the misunderstanding that it allows sinning.
No. Israel was under a legalistic system; Les points out that under the Law, picking up sticks on the Sabbath meant death by stoning. For the believer, Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
No. Paul answered, "God forbid," to the very idea that the freedom of grace means we can sin. Les Feldick repeatedly says grace is not license and is never licensed; believers are now led and guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Because believers are not under the law but under grace. Les explains that the old Adam, or old sin nature, does not have to reign like a king; the believer can instead let grace, Christ, and the Holy Spirit reign.
Watch the Teaching: Not Under Law but Under Grace — What Romans 6:14 Really Means