Audio commentary on this verse

Note 11 at Ro 7:6: In these first six verses of Ro 7, Paul said we are "loosed from the law" (Ro 7:2), "free from that law" (Ro 7:3), "dead to the law" (Ro 7:4), and "delivered from the law" (this verse). Ro 6:14 says that we "are not under the law." How could it be made any clearer that the Law was not made for a born-again person (1Ti 1:9)?

Note 12 at Ro 7:6: The American Heritage Dictionary defines "spirit," when used as in this verse, as "the actual though unstated sense or significance of something." Just as Jesus taught against ritualistic observance of laws (see note 21 at Mt 23:26), so Paul was saying a Christian is someone who fulfills the real sense or significance of the Law, not every detail. God is more pleased with someone who has a pure heart and yet fails Him in actions (example: Lu 7:36-50) than someone who does the right things with an impure heart (1Sa 16:7). 2Co 3:6 says, "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."

True Christianity is not the observance of a different set of rules than some other religion; it is a change of the heart (Eze 11:19, 36:26; and 2Co 5:17). Once people's hearts are changed, they will serve God, not because they have to, but because they want to.