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The phrase occurs only 12 times in the entire Bible

I was raised with the thought that the phrase "under the law" meant something I did not have to do because I was saved by grace through faith in Christ, and not by keeping the law. It is correct that I am saved by grace, and not by the law, but does that mean I can disregard the law and do what I think is right? No!

Judges 17:6 and 21:25 states, In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. If I do that which is right in my own eyes, how do I determine that is what God wants me to do?

Proverbs 12:15 states, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 21:2 repeats, Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Could we say that being under the law is being controlled by the law? Or being held accountable by the law? Compare to being accountable only to Jesus Christ instead of being held accountable to the law.

There are three books of the Bible (Romans, I Corinthians, and Galatians) that use the term "under the law" and Paul is the author of each of these three books.

(Rom 3:19) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. It is very apparent this passage is speaking to those who are lost. A very short look at the context will reveal this truth.

(Rom 6:14-15) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. {15} What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. It is very apparent this passage is speaking to saved people about holy living. Paul is telling them they should not sin because they are saved, (the grace of God covers their sins) but they should live holy lives. (By the way – what is sin? I John 3:4 – the transgression of the law!) Saved people can live like they are lost! Romans 6 is speaking about living by grace – that is the reason we are baptized.

(1 Corinthians 9:20-21) And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; {21} To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. It is very apparent that Paul in this chapter is defending his apostleship. There were those that did not consider Paul an apostle of Christ because he did not "fit in" with what the other apostles did. They did not understand that God had called him to spread the gospel message to the Gentiles. Paul is here explaining that everything he does is for the furtherance of the gospel of Christ. In these verses, Paul is not saying he sins to win sinners to Christ. He is saying he approaches the sinner from the standpoint of his sins so he can win that person to Christ.

(Gal 3:23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. All of the passages in Galatians are speaking about those that are redeemed, or need not redemption (as Jesus Christ). Galatians is written to a group of churches who have been deceived into believing they must do according to the law in order to be saved, or in order to keep their salvation. Obedience to the law does not save anybody, and does not keep any person saved. Instead, obedience to the law of God is like obeying the Word of God. Obedience should be done because there is great love to God because he has saved us, and because he doesn’t kill us as we continue in sin.

(Gal 4:4-5) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, {5} To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. This passage does not mean that Christ was lost when he was born, because he was born the only begotten son of God, not a begotten (sinful) son of man. It means he was born in the likeness of sinful man (Philippians 2:6,7) without sin.

(Gal 4:21) Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? Verses 21-31 make it abundantly clear that being under the law is being bound, while living in the promises of God is being free. The whole point of being under the law is to be bound to the law, struggling to do in the flesh what cannot be done. Yet living according to the promises of God is not a struggle at all. Matthew 11:28-30 reveals we take upon us the yoke of Christ, which is a light and easy yoke.

(Gal 5:18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. It is very apparent to me that lost people do not follow the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned, carnally minded and do not trust God. It is also very apparent that saved people who try to follow the letter of the law are not being led of the Spirit of God. Following the Holy Spirit of God will cause the follower to be obedient to all the law of God. God does not want his children to be lawless, or disobedient to his word.

Many believe the law of God is not in effect today because of these verses. They say Jesus death, burial and resurrection did away with the law of God for all those that are saved. But there are other verses that make me think the law of God is still in effect.

What is sin? I John 3:4 – Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

The Golden Rule. Matthew 7:12 – Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Jesus did not destroy the law. Matthew 5:17-20 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Much has been said concerning that Jesus did not destroy the law, but rather fulfilled it; therefore the saved have also fulfilled the law in Christ; therefore they do not have to obey the law. It seems to me that when a saved person says this, they are missing the entire point about living an acceptable life before God. It seems to me they want to do what they think instead of God says. Christ did fulfill the law for all the saved; therefore I can also fulfill all the requirements of the law without being a legalists’. As a saved person, I want to submit myself to whatever God demands of me. And God demands my entire life, not just the part of my life I want to give him. Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, and Luke 17:33 all declare that the person that saves his life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for the cause of Christ will save it. Remember also Matthew 7:23 speaks of those that have prophesied, cast out devils, and done many wonderful works in the name of Christ, yet Christ declares to them, "I never knew you." The emphasis of this passage and verse 24-29 speaks of the person who knows the commandments of God, but does not do them.

We are judged by the law - Romans 2:11-13 – For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves; 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) James 2:12 – So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

The greatest commandment is not DO: It is love God, then love everybody else. Matthew 22:24-40. Fulfilling the great commandment comes from the heart, not from what you do. If is possible to do the right things, but do those in the wrong way, or in the wrong manner, or for the wrong purpose. When a person loves God, they will want to do what God says. They will want to be obedient, not disobedient.

I Timothy 1:5-11 – The end of the commandment is love, but some have turned aside from this commandment, teaching what the law says people ought to do. They have forgotten the law is not for the righteous, but for the lawless and disobedient. True believers will do what the law says without having somebody tell them what to do.

The commandments of God are not grievous, I John 5:3 states, For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. The person who does not want to keep the commandments of God is showing they do not love him.