It is the Holy Spirit's life-giving power that sets a believer free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2 literally says, 'the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.' Les Feldick identifies the law of sin and death as the Mosaic system, which could only condemn and had no life-giving power. The Spirit of life, by contrast, is the Holy Spirit's indwelling, life-giving work in the believer.
Romans 8:2 — This is the verse that introduces and explains the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and its liberating effect.
Romans 8:2 declares, 'For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.' This verse places two things in direct contrast: the law of the Spirit of life and the law of sin and death. In Romans 7:6, Paul states, '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.' Then Romans 8:4 explains, 'That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' These verses together show the believer's deliverance from the condemning law through the Spirit.
Les teaches that the 'law of sin and death' in Romans 8:2 is the Mosaic system. The Law could do nothing but condemn; it had no life-giving power. The Holy Spirit, however, is 'that power from on high' who gives life. When a person believes the gospel, the Holy Spirit comes in and becomes the very power of God within him. That is why believers are not under law but under grace. The Spirit's indwelling presence is what makes the Law unnecessary: the Spirit keeps believers from wanting to steal, speak falsely, covet, or commit immoral acts. Being delivered from the law means serving in newness of spirit, not in the oldness of the letter. Les also describes the law of Christ as complete liberty that never conflicts with the Ten Commandments.
In Romans 8:2, Paul contrasts the law of the Spirit of life with 'the law of sin and death.' Les identifies the latter as the Mosaic system. He says the Law 'could do nothing but condemn' and 'had no life giving power whatsoever.' The commandments themselves could only pronounce the guilty party as guilty.
Les describes the Holy Spirit as 'that power from on high' that gives life. When a person believes the gospel, the Holy Spirit comes in and becomes the very power of God within him. This indwelling Spirit keeps believers from wanting to steal, lie, covet, or commit immorality — things the Law demanded but could not produce.
Romans 7:6 says believers are delivered from the law, 'that being dead wherein we were held.' Les applies this to the believer's union with Christ: old Adam is crucified, the believer is broken from the demands of the Mosaic law, and now serves in newness of the Spirit, not in the oldness of the letter.
No. Les is emphatic: 'grace is never licensed.' The believer is not under the stringent demands of 'thou shalt and thou shalt not,' but is led and guided by the dwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit's indwelling power actually keeps the believer from the sins the Law prohibited.
Les says the law of Christ is more than the Ten Commandments. It is all of God's principles — the complete liberty believers have in Christ. It never flies in the face of the Ten Commandments, but it is the broader rule of living in the Spirit.
Les says that based on the earliest manuscripts, the words 'who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit' do not belong in Romans 8:1 but in verse 4. He makes this point to protect salvation by faith plus nothing: if those words were left in verse 1, it would imply that no condemnation is only for those who walk after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 Textual Clarification
Les argues the words 'who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit' belong in Romans 8:4, not 8:1, so no condemnation does not depend on a believer's walk.
The Spirit Gives Life
The Law could only condemn, but the Holy Spirit is the power from on high that gives life.
The Law of Sin and Death Is the Mosaic System
Les directly addresses Romans 8:2, identifying the law of sin and death with the Mosaic system and quoting Paul's explanation in verse 3.
Indwelling Spirit Removes Need for the Law
The Spirit's indwelling power keeps believers from the sins the Law demanded they avoid.
Delivered From Law, Serving in Newness of Spirit
Les shows Romans 7:6 means believers are delivered from the law and now serve under the Holy Spirit's control, not the oldness of the letter.
The Law of Christ
Les connects Romans 7:25 to Galatians 5:1 and describes the law of Christ as complete liberty consistent with God's principles.
Grace Is Never License
In response to freedom from the Law, Les insists grace is never a license; the indwelling Holy Spirit guides the believer.
Dead to the Law, Married to Christ
Les explains that being married to Christ breaks old Adam from the demands of the Mosaic law and delivers the believer to serve in newness of spirit.
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 is the central verse in the question, naming the Spirit of life and its liberating work.
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:
Paul explains the Law's weakness and God's solution in sending His Son.
Romans 8:4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Les explains that the phrase 'who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit' originally belongs here rather than in verse 1.
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.
Believers are delivered from the law and serve in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Les points to this verse as the liberty of the law of Christ.
The Bible calls it the law of sin and death in Romans 8:2. Les Feldick identifies it with the Mosaic system, which could only condemn and could not give life. The law of the Spirit of life frees believers from that condemning law.
Les teaches yes. Because the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, He keeps us from wanting to steal, lie, covet, or commit immorality — things the Law demanded but could not produce.
Romans 7:6 says believers are delivered from the law to serve in newness of spirit, not oldness of the letter. Les explains this means serving under the control of the Holy Spirit, not under the written code.
No. Les Feldick is emphatic that grace is never license. Believers have freedom, but they are led and guided by the dwelling Holy Spirit, who produces obedience from the inside.
Les says the earliest manuscripts indicate that the phrase 'who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit' belongs in verse 4 rather than verse 1. He argues this preserves salvation as faith plus nothing, not conditioned on a believer's walk.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:2 Explained — Free from the Law of Sin and Death