Yes—freedom from the Ten Commandments comes through death: the believer dies with Christ so the old Adam is crucified and the law's claim is ended.
A person cannot be freed from the Ten Commandments by willpower or reformation. Les teaches that Adam must be crucified; then the believer is dead to the law by the body of Christ and is married to the risen Christ. Scripture confirms that 'he that is dead is freed from sin' and that the ordinances against us were nailed to the cross.
Romans 7:4 — Paul directly says believers are become dead to the law by Christ's body and married to another, which answers how one is freed from the Ten Commandments.
Romans 6:6-7 — The old man is crucified with Christ so the body of sin is destroyed, and the dead person is freed—this is the death that breaks the law's hold.
Colossians 2:14 — The handwriting of ordinances against us was taken out of the way and nailed to the cross, ending the law's demands.
Romans 7:4 puts the principle in one sentence: 'Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.' Romans 6:6 says, 'Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.' The next verse draws the consequence: 'For he that is dead is freed from sin.' Paul also says in Romans 3:21 that 'the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,' and Colossians 2:14 tells how the law's claim was abolished: 'Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.' Romans 13:10 concludes, 'Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.'
Les Feldick begins with the human predicament: the lost person, whether religious, irreligious, or even an atheist, is under the demands of the Mosaic law—the Ten Commandments—and cannot escape its anathema [Clip 0]. No amount of human discipline can break the control of the old Adamic nature; Adam has to be crucified [Clip 1]. That is exactly what happened at the cross: God put old Adam out of commission, the body of sin was destroyed, and 'he that is dead is freed from sin' [Clips 2, 6]. Paul's illustration, Les explains, is a marriage. As long as both spouses live, the law binds them; when one dies, the survivor is free from that law. So the believer, having died with Christ, is now 'dead to the law' and 'married to another'—the risen Christ [Clips 0, 3]. This is a spiritual union, like a husband and wife [Clip 3]. Being delivered from the law does not mean license; it means serving 'in newness of spirit' under the control of the Holy Spirit, the Word, and God Himself—not in the oldness of the letter [Clip 4]. The law itself is not sin, but it could only condemn; Christ's death changed the whole situation [Clips 4, 5]. Moreover, the handwriting of ordinances against us was nailed to the cross, and love is how the law is fulfilled [Clip 7].
Les uses the illustration of a husband and wife under the law: as long as both live, the law attaches to them; the moment one partner dies, the survivor is released [Clip 0]. The same is true spiritually. Old Adam is the source of disobedience; until he dies, he reigns. Adam has to be crucified [Clips 1, 2]. In the believer, God has done this—'our old man is crucified with him'—so the body of sin is put out of commission and the person is freed [Clip 6].
Because the believer has died to the law through the body of Christ, he is now joined to the risen Christ. Les says this is comparable to the union of a husband and wife—it is a spiritual relationship, not a physical one [Clips 0, 3]. Paul's language in Romans 7:4 says we are 'married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead,' and Les draws that comparison all the way through Paul's writings [Clip 3].
Les points to Colossians 2:14, where the handwriting of ordinances against us was 'nailed to it to his cross,' and says that ended the old demands [Clip 7]. That does not mean the law was evil. Les agrees with Paul: 'Is the law sin? God forbid'—the problem was that the law could only condemn [Clips 4, 5]. In the believer's new life, the law's demands are replaced by the Spirit's control, and the way to fulfill the law is love, because love was what put Christ on the cross [Clip 7].
Death Breaks the Law's Hold
Les compares the law's hold to marriage and income tax: as long as both partners live, the law applies; when one dies, the survivor is free. The lost person is under the Ten Commandments, and only death ends that claim.
Adam Must Be Crucified
No amount of human discipline can break old Adam's control. The only way out is for Adam to be crucified—which God did substitutionarily in Christ.
Dead to Adam, Freed from Sin
Les applies Romans 6:7: the person who has been crucified with Christ is freed from old Adam. Until Adam is put to death, he reigns as king.
Married to the Risen Christ
Through the cross the believer is dead to the law and united with Christ in a marriage-like spiritual relationship; Les uses Ephesians 5 to compare the relationship of husband and wife.
Serve in Newness of the Spirit
Freedom from the law does not mean license: believers are delivered from the law to serve under the Holy Spirit's control, not in the oldness of the letter. The law itself is not sin.
Righteousness Without the Law
Les explains that the law could only condemn; Christ's death and resurrection changed the situation so that the righteousness of God is now manifested apart from the law.
Old Adam Crucified with Christ
In the believer God has killed old Adam, putting the body of sin out of commission, and the one who is dead is freed from sin.
Ordinances Nailed to the Cross
Les points to Colossians 2:14—the handwriting of ordinances that was against us was taken away and nailed to the cross, ending the law's demands; love, not law-keeping, fulfills the law.
Romans 7:4: Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
This verse is the core answer: believers died to the law through Christ's body and entered a new union with the risen Christ.
Romans 7:6: But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held, that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
It describes the result of being delivered from the law—serving in newness of the Spirit rather than the old letter.
Romans 6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
It states that the old man was crucified with Christ so the body of sin might be destroyed.
Romans 6:7: For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Paul's plain statement: a dead person is free from sin's claim.
Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
It contrasts the law's condemnation with the righteousness God provides apart from the law.
Colossians 2:14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
It explains that the ordinances against us were nailed to the cross and removed.
Romans 13:10: Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
It ties love to the fulfillment of the law, a point Les draws from the cross.
No. Les says the law is not like old Adam; Paul asks 'Is the law sin? God forbid' [Clip 4]. The problem was that the law could only condemn—it couldn't save [Clip 5]. Freedom comes through death, not through despising the law.
Because a dead person is no longer under law. Les says just as a spouse is free when the other dies [Clip 0], when old Adam is crucified, the old identity is put to death [Clips 1, 6]. Romans 6:7 says 'he that is dead is freed from sin' [Clip 2].
No. Les emphasizes that believers are delivered from the law to serve in newness of spirit—under the control of the Holy Spirit—not in the oldness of the letter [Clip 4]. The goal is to bring forth fruit unto God [Clip 0].
Les points to Colossians 2:14, where the handwriting of ordinances against us was taken out of the way and nailed to the cross [Clip 7]. This ended the law's claim, because Christ was the fulfilling of the law and what put Him on the cross was His love [Clip 7].
Watch the Teaching: Dead to the Law, Married to Christ — What Romans 7 Really Means