Romans 7:6

But now wee are deliuered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held, that we should serue in newnesse of spirit, and not in the oldnesse of the letter. Romans 7:6 (KJV)

The book of Romans, written by the apostle Paul, confronts the righteousness of God, the means of salvation, and the relationship between the law and faith. In chapter 7 Paul turns his focus to the purpose and function of the law, its connection to sin, and the human struggle that results from trying to live under the law’s demands.

Paul declares that believers are delivered from the law. This delivery does not mean the law is abolished; rather, it means that the condemnation and bondage the law once represented are removed for those who trust in Christ. Through faith, believers are justified and declared righteous before God, no longer seeking righteousness by their own adherence to the letter of the law.

Because Christ died to fulfill the law’s requirements, the law no longer possesses the power to condemn. Those who have placed their confidence in Him are no longer under its dominion. Instead of relying on external regulations, believers now live by the grace of God, sustained by faith in the finished work of Christ.

The purpose of this deliverance is that we may serve in the “newness of the Spirit.” This phrase points to the transformative work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live according to God’s will and to walk in obedience from a place of inner renewal rather than external effort.

Paul contrasts this newness with the “old fashion of the letter.” The “letter” denotes the external requirements and rituals of the Mosaic law, which were incapable of producing true righteousness. The new covenant, centered on Christ, emphasizes internal transformation of the heart, enabling believers to obey God out of genuine love and devotion.

Overall, Romans 7:6 highlights the freedom and transformation that flow from faith in Christ. Righteousness is not achieved by strict adherence to the law’s letter but through God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit within us. As recipients of that grace, we are called to live in the newness of the Spirit, serving God with joy, obedience, and the guidance of His indwelling presence.