Paul teaches that believers are not under the law but under grace — grace is unmerited favor that frees from the law's dominion, yet it is not license.
In Romans 6:14 Paul writes, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Les Feldick says this distinction is as different as daylight from dark, or midnight from noonday sunlight. Grace is unmerited favor — nothing the believer can do counts with God; it is all based on what Christ has done. But Paul immediately rejects the idea that grace permits sin, asking in Romans 6:15, "Shall we sin...? God forbid."
Romans 6:14 — This verse is Paul's clearest statement of the law/grace distinction: the believer is not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:15 — Paul anticipates the objection that being under grace permits sin and rejects it with 'God forbid.'
Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Paul then asks in Romans 6:15, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." The biblical text itself immediately rejects the idea that grace is permission to sin. These verses show the clear contrast Paul draws: the believer is not under the law but under grace, and the abuse of that liberty is emphatically denied. The law's dominion is broken, and grace is not reduced to license.
Les Feldick teaches that the difference Paul describes between law and grace is radical — as different as daylight from dark and as pitch midnight from high noon sunlight. Being "not under the law, but under grace" means the believer is no longer under the ritual and stipulations of the Law of Israel, the demands of Judaism, or the legalistic system under which Israel lived. Grace is unmerited favor: nothing the believer does can count with God; it is all based on what Christ has done on his behalf. Les also insists that grace is not license. Paul asks in Romans 6:15, "Shall we sin...? God forbid," and Les says a better translation of "God forbid" is "banish the thought." Under grace, the believer obeys from a heart of love instead of by commandment. Paul never says believers are free to break the commandments, and he never says the Ten Commandments are of no earthly good. The whole book of Galatians, Les notes, was written to prove that under grace the law has no power over us. Law and grace are two totally contrary principles and will not mix.
Romans 6:14 says the believer is not under the law but under grace. Les Feldick explains that Paul means the believer is no longer under the ritual and stipulations of the Law of Israel or the demands of Judaism. This is a complete change from the legalism of the law to the light of God's grace. Grace is unmerited favor — nothing we can do counts with God; it is all based on what Christ has done on our behalf.
No. Paul asks in Romans 6:15, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Les Feldick emphasizes that grace is not license. He says believers under grace are under a whole different set of circumstances, and the true force of "God forbid" is "banish the thought." The freedom of grace never means freedom to sin.
Les Feldick points out that under the Law, God's requirements came as commandments — "thou shalt." Under grace, the believer automatically adheres to the things given in the Law — not stealing, not committing adultery, not having pagan idols. Paul never says believers are free to break the commandments, nor does he say the Ten Commandments are of no earthly good. The difference is that obedience now flows from a heart of love rather than from commandment.
Les Feldick teaches that law and grace are two totally contrary principles and will not mix. God dealt with Israel under the Law, and He deals with believers today under Grace. That is why the Apostle Paul is continually crying against legalism in any shape or form — believers are not under the Law; they are under Grace.
Salvation Based on Christ's Work
In Romans 8 Les reminds believers that salvation is not based on what we have done but on what Christ has done on our behalf — the underlying basis of grace over law.
Law vs. Grace as Daylight and Dark
Paul's words in Romans 6:14 mean believers are not under law but under grace; grace is unmerited favor and everything is based on what God has done for us.
Not Under Israel's Ritual Law
Being under grace means no longer being under the ritual, stipulations, or demands of Judaism — and Les stresses grace is not license.
Obedience from the Heart of Love
Under grace the believer keeps the standards of the Law out of love, not by commandment; Paul never says the commandments are of no earthly good or that believers may break them.
Two Totally Different Concepts
Les compares law and grace to midnight versus noonday sunlight and points to Romans 6:14 as proof of two totally different concepts.
Grace Is Not License
Paul asks "Shall we sin...? God forbid" — Les emphasizes that grace does not give license and that Galatians was written to prove the law has no power over us under grace.
A Totally Different Response to God
Under grace believers respond to God in a totally different way than Israel did under the legalistic system; "God forbid" should be understood as "banish the thought."
Two Contrary Principles That Will Not Mix
God dealt with Israel under the Law and with believers today under Grace; these are two contrary principles, and Paul constantly fights legalism because we are not under the Law but under grace.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This is the key Pauline statement separating the believer from the Law and placing him under grace.
Romans 6:15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
It anticipates the objection that grace permits sin and rejects it with 'God forbid.'
No. Paul says in Romans 6:15, "God forbid." Les Feldick repeatedly emphasizes that grace is not license; it is a whole different set of circumstances in which believers are free from the Law's demands but still bound to Christ in love.
Grace is unmerited favor. Les teaches that nothing the believer can do counts with God; it is all based on what Christ has done on the believer's behalf.
Les Feldick says the book of Galatians was written to prove that under grace the law has no power over us.
Les says Paul does not say believers are free to break the commandments, nor does he say the Ten Commandments are of no earthly good. Under grace, believers automatically adhere to them from a heart of love rather than by commandment.
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