Paul’s audience is mostly gentile, and Paul is trying to explain to them about the Law’s purpose. There was a time before the Law was given. God gave the Law to the Hebrews. The Law was meant to increase the trespass so that grace may abound. An obvious question arises; is the Law abolished in Christ? What kind of god’s words can be stricken?

Paul answers by claiming that the Law is not done away with. None of God’s words will ever perish or derogate. The Law will always serve the purpose God intended—to reveal the unrighteousness of people, a truth we see in the final chapters of Deuteronomy. Those who are in Christ, however, are free from the Law, and this is not the same thing. The Law is not abolished, we are. We die to our flesh, and a new heart is given to us—and so the Law has accomplished its purpose in us.

Paul illustrates this truth by showing that the Law itself prescribes people being released from it—as in the event of a spouse’s death, releasing the living spouse from her lawful obligation. The Law remains. Adultery is still transgression, but the living spouse has changed—the Law no longer applies.

The Law is explicit about the fact that it applies to the people of national Israel as long as they live (Deuteronomy 6:1-2). If people die with Christ, the Law is satisfied. In this way, Christ has fulfilled the Law for all of His people in His own death. 

In verse 14, Paul begins talking about the struggle of the spirit and the flesh. We see that even though he is no longer bound by the Law, he still cares about it and longs for it. This is true of those who are in Christ. We are no longer bound by the Law, yet the Law is written on our hearts. Our spirits long for God’s good and holy Law—particularly concerning the moral truths (there were contextual laws meant only for national Israel going into Canaan). Our flesh often does the things we hate, which are contrary to God’s Law. When we still act contra to the Law, we now feel guilt because we are changed people. Paul thanks God through Christ for delivering His people from the body of death—justification by grace alone through faith alone. No one other than God can fulfill the Law; God alone is righteous according to the Law.

So, our approach to the Law is not legalistic like some are in the habit of. It is prideful, arrogant, and naïve to insist that we can possibly fulfill the Law by obeying it. Instead, the Law is edifying. When we fail, we hate our sin but rest in the grace and mercy of God—who is the only just one and the only one who can justify His people in the midst of all nations.

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