It is often concluded incorrectly that Paul taught the law of God is no longer applicable (Rom. 7:6). However, by reading Romans 7:7-12, we see that Paul is not referring to obedience to God’s commandments. Instead, he is pointing out that the law required the life of the sinner (Ez. 18:4, 20) which is the debt Christ paid, releasing us from the penalty of the law (death; Col. 2:14).

As every human being faces the death penalty (Rom. 3:19, 23) and as Christ provided the necessary atonement through his shed blood to deliver us from this sentence (Heb. 9:22), Paul cautioned us not to go back and commit the same offenses that brought us to the point of facing death in the first place (Heb.10:26-31).

Paul’s teaching that the sacrificial aspect of the law was fulfilled by Jesus Christ became a stumbling block for many of the religious authorities at that time (Rom. 9:30-33).

The difficulty that many have in understanding Paul’s writings lies in the fact that he often used the term “law” in reference to the sacrificial ordinances of the physical temple system, not the commandments. The majority of Paul’s writings that appear to do away with God’s law are actually referring to either the law of animal sacrifice, circumcision, or the Levitical Priesthood, depending on the context, all fulfilled by Christ’s death (Mt. 5:17).

God’s people are now to become living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), circumcised of heart (Rom. 2:29) and members of a royal priesthood as kings and priests (1Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6). As mentioned in the next section, those who are converted become priests after the order of Melchizedek, under Jesus Christ.


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