Romans Chapter 7 Vs. 6

Released from the Law

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. Rom 7:6

But now we... In Christ we are delivered from the law which condemned us for sins, but made no provision for pardon and gave no power to obey it.

that being dead... We were dead in sins while under law and held helpless to free ourselves from its bondage and death.

we should serve... Is the verb from of the word for “bondservant”, but here it is parallel to being slaves of righteousness, emphasizing that this service is not voluntary. Not only is the believer able to do what is right, he will do what is right.

oldness of the... We see that the law merely typifies the gospel, and can only be fulfilled by the gospel. We serve God now, not in the old literal sense of forms and rituals, but in the true spiritual meaning. Was the external, written law code that produced only hostility and condemnation.

Gal. 5:18 “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Those whom Jesus made free are free indeed.

We are not free to do what the law forbids, but freedom from the spiritual liabilities and penalties of God’s law.

Because we died in Christ when He died, the law with its condemnation and penalties no longer has jurisdiction over us.

The newness of spirit is a new state of mind which the Spirit produces, characterized by a new desire and ability to keep the law of God.

But now, being identified with Christ, believers are dead to the Law. Like a widow released from marital obligations, so believers are released from the Law and its arousal to sin. The purpose of this release “from the Law” is so that they may serve (a better rendering is “be slaves”; cf. “slave[s]” in Rom. 6:6, 6:16 [thrice], Rom. 6:17-18, 6:20, 6:22) in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. The word “Spirit” may be “spirit” (lowercase “s”) to contrast with the written document, the Law. The thought then is that believers do not live by the “oldness” of the Law but by the “newness” of a regenerated spirit. Or “Spirit” may refer to the Holy Spirit, the Source of new life. (Cf. see “the Spirit” and “the letter,” 2Cor. 3:6.).