The Holy Spirit differs from the Mosaic Law in that the Law condemns without power, while the Spirit indwells believers and empowers them to live righteously.
According to Les Feldick, the Mosaic Law, though perfect from God's perspective, was faulty from man's perspective because it could not be kept and had no power to help. It could only condemn. In contrast, the Holy Spirit indwells believers, becoming their law, and provides the power and desire to obey God, thus replacing the external rule with an internal guide.
Romans 8:2-3 — These verses contrast the law of the Spirit of life with the law of sin and death, directly addressing the difference.
The Bible teaches that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made believers free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). This indicates a distinction between two 'laws': one that brings death and one that brings life. Furthermore, the Bible states that what the law could not do, because it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son (Romans 8:3). This shows the law's limitation in providing righteousness.
Les Feldick explains that the Mosaic Law, including the Ten Commandments, was perfect from God's perspective but faulty from mankind's perspective because it could not be kept. It had no power to enable obedience; it could only condemn. He compares the Law to a mirror that reveals dirt but cannot clean it. In contrast, the Holy Spirit indwells believers and becomes their law, not as a set of rules but as an internal power that gives them the desire and ability to live pleasing to God. The Spirit never leads contrary to God's basic laws, but works to keep believers from sin, giving them freedom from the stringent demands of 'thou shalt not'.
Les Feldick teaches that the Law was faulty from man's perspective because it was weak through the flesh (Romans 8:3). It could not help people obey it; it could only pronounce them guilty. The Law had no life-giving power and could only kill by condemning.
The Holy Spirit indwells believers and becomes their law. He works through His power and influence, giving believers the desire to obey God and keeping them from wanting to steal, lie, or commit immoral acts. The Spirit leads and guides believers, so that they fulfill the law without being under its burden.
Les explains that being under grace does not mean license to sin. Instead, believers are under the control of the Holy Spirit, who never leads them contrary to God's laws. Grace provides freedom from the stringent demands of the Law, but the Spirit empowers believers to live righteously.
The Law's Fault From Man's Perspective
Les explains that the Mosaic Law was faulty from man's perspective because it couldn't be kept, necessitating a new covenant.
Dead to the Law, Married to Christ — What Romans 7 Really Means
Now the Holy Spirit that comes in and indwells us becomes our law. See, we don't become lawless because we're not under the Ten Commandments, because something far better takes its place—the indwelling Spirit. See, and the Holy Spirit, contrary to some nuts that are probably in institutions who say, well, God told me to kill him, God never tells anybody to kill someone.
The Spirit's Power Over Sin
The indwelling Holy Spirit provides the power to keep believers from wanting to sin, something the Law could not do.
Life in the Spirit vs. Letter
Les contrasts serving in the newness of the Spirit with the oldness of the letter, showing the Spirit leads believers to fulfill the law.
Law Condemns, Spirit Gives Life
The Law can only condemn and kill, but the Holy Spirit gives life through grace.
Grace is Not License
Under grace, believers are led by the Spirit, not lawless, and are freed from the demands of 'thou shalt not'.
What the Bible Really Says About the Old Sin Nature
The Holy Spirit is just moving upon the population, convicting men by the Law, as we saw in the earlier program, of their need of something, because they can't do it on their own. So along comes the Apostle Paul, and he lays it out so plainly, and that's why we're going to take our time coming through these books of Romans and Ephesians especially.
The Law Weak Through the Flesh
Les highlights Romans 8:2-3 to show the law was weak through the flesh, while the Spirit brings life and freedom.
Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
This verse contrasts the life-giving Spirit with the condemning law.
Romans 8:3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Shows the law's weakness and God's provision through Christ.
Yes, in the sense that believers are no longer under the Law but are led by the indwelling Spirit. The Spirit does not lead contrary to the Law but enables believers to fulfill it from the heart.
No. Grace is never license. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live righteously and keeps them from wanting to sin, so they end up fulfilling the law's requirements.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:2 Explained — Free from the Law of Sin and Death