Release from the Law
(Galatians 3:15–25)

1Know ye not brethren, (for I speak to them knowing law,) that law rules over man as much time as he lives? 2For a married woman is bound by the law to a living husband; and if the husband die, she is left inactive from the law of the husband. 3Wherefore, the husband living, she shall be called adulteress if she be to another man: but if the man die, she is free from the law; not to be an adulteress, being to another man.

4Therefore, my brethren, ye also were dead to the law by the body of Christ; for you not to be to another, but to him raised from the dead, that we bring forth fruit to God. 5For when we were in the flesh the passions of sins, those by the law, were energetic in our members to bring forth fruit to death. 6And now we were left inactive from the law, having died in what we were held; so that we serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

God’s Law Is Holy

7What then shall we say? The law sin? It may not be. But I knew not sin except by the law: for I knew not lust, if the law said not, Thou shalt not eagerly desire. 8And sin, having taken occasion by the command, wrought in me every lust. For without law sin dead. 9And I was living without law once: and the command having come, sin came back to life, and I died. 10And the command was found to me which for life, this for death. 11For sin having taken occasion by the command, deceived me completely, and by it killed me. 12Therefore truly the law holy, and the command holy, and just, and good.

Struggling with Sin

13Was then good death to me? It may not be. But sin, that it might appear sin, by the good working death in me; that sin might be sinful to excess by the command.

14For we know that the law is spiritual: and I am fleshly, sold under sin. 15For what I work I know not: for what I would not, this I do; but what I hate, this I do. 16And if what I would not this I do, I consent to the law that it is good. 17And now I no more wish it, but sin dwelling in me. 18For I know that in me dwells no good, (that is, in my flesh:) for to will lies near me; but to work good I find not. 19For not what good I would, do I; but the evil I would not, this I do. 20And if what I would not, this I do, I no more work it, but sin dwelling in me.

21I find therefore a law to me, wishing to do good, that evil lies near me. 22For I rejoice in the law of God, according to the man within: 23And I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind, and taking me captive to the law of sin being in my members. 24I an oppressed man: who shall save me from the body of this death? 25I return thanks to God by Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore truly with the mind I serve the law of God; and with the flesh the law of sin.