Most people assume that following God just means following rules, but that’s not the whole picture.
Romans 7:6 says, “But now we are delivered from the law… that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”
This verse draws a sharp line between obeying the “letter” of the law—external rules—and living in the “Spirit,” where we find freedom and a change that goes much deeper.
So, what does this really mean?
1. The “Oldness of the Letter” Shows Us the Problem
The “letter” Paul is talking about refers to the Law of Moses in the Old Testament. This law was good because it came from God, but it had limits. It could show right from wrong, but it couldn’t help us live right on its own. Think of the law like a mirror. It reflects the dirt on our faces but can’t clean it off. It reveals sin but doesn’t remove it.
As Paul says in Romans 3:20, “For by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The law lets us see our flaws, but it doesn’t give us the power to overcome them. It’s like knowing what’s expected but not having what it takes to follow through.
2. The Newness of the Spirit Brings Us True Freedom
When Jesus came, He introduced something new. He gave His life to set us free from sin and sent the Holy Spirit to live in us. Now, we can live with God’s Spirit guiding and helping us every step of the way.
In 2 Corinthians 3:6, Paul explains it this way: “the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” The law, or “letter,” shows us our guilt, but the Spirit gives us life. He doesn’t just command; He empowers. The Spirit moves us to want what’s right and helps us do it.
3. Freedom in the Spirit Changes How We Live
Living by the Spirit is a completely different experience from living under the law. Instead of fearing punishment, we want to obey because we love the One who saved us. The Spirit works in our hearts, changing our desires and giving us strength to live righteously.
As Paul puts it in Galatians 5:18, “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”
The Spirit gives us true freedom. This isn’t freedom to live however we want, but freedom to live with a heart that’s truly changed—one that’s eager to please God.
4. Life with the Spirit Is About Relationship, Not Rules
When we live by the Spirit, following God is less about rules and more about relationship.
We’re not just checking boxes; we’re living in step with Him. The Spirit shapes our hearts, helping us love God and obey Him from the inside out. Philippians 3:3 says it like this: we “worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Life in the Spirit is worship. It’s joy. It’s relying on God, not just trying harder.
The law, or “letter,” could point out our sin, but it couldn’t make us holy. The Spirit, however, gives us real freedom and real change. Through Christ, we don’t just live by rules on the outside; we have the Spirit inside, helping us live for God in a way that the law never could. So, let’s live in the “newness of the Spirit,” trusting Him to guide us and change us day by day.
