Kingdom Minded — Honoring Our Father by What We Eat

Part IV: Freedom, Law, and Grace — Paul’s Gospel in Context

1️⃣ The Root of Confusion

Paul’s letters are the most quoted — and the most misunderstood — writings in the New Testament.
He uses terms like law, grace, faith, freedom, and flesh — but unless we define them the way he did, we risk twisting his meaning.

Peter warned us plainly:

“Our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him… There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction.” — 2 Peter 3:15-16

So, let’s define terms biblically.

2️⃣ What Paul Means by “Law”

Paul uses the word “law” (nomos) in several ways — context determines meaning:

Paul never condemns the Torah itself — he condemns:

• trusting in works of law (oral or ritual observance) for justification, and
• using law without the Spirit, which brings condemnation rather than life.

3️⃣ The Law Is Not the Problem — Sin Is

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law.” — Romans 7:7
“So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.” — Romans 7:12

Paul viewed Torah as the mirror that reveals sin, not the source of bondage.
The bondage comes from the flesh that rebels against it.

“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.” — Romans 7:14

So Torah is spiritual, but without the Spirit we fail to keep it.

4️⃣ Grace — Not a License but Empowerment

Grace (charis) is not permission to sin; it is divine empowerment to overcome sin.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation… teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” — Titus 2:11–12

Paul never taught that grace replaced obedience.
He taught that grace restores obedience by writing the law on the heart (Jer 31:33; Rom 8:4).

5️⃣ Romans 6–8 — The Law, Sin, and the Spirit

Let’s break it down:

Romans 6 — Freedom from Sin’s Dominion

“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!” (v. 1–2)

Sin = transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).
Therefore, continuing in sin means continuing in lawlessness — Paul says “absolutely not.”

Freedom in Messiah = no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness (v. 18).

Romans 7 — The Struggle of the Flesh

Paul describes a man under conviction — he delights in God’s law (v. 22), but battles his sinful nature.

“With my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh the law of sin.” — v. 25

This is not a rejection of Torah; it’s the need for the Spirit to walk it out.

Romans 8 — The Solution

“The law of the Spirit of life in Messiah has set you free from the law of sin and death.” — v. 2

Notice: Free from sin and death, not free from God’s law.

“The righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” — v. 4

The Spirit empowers obedience — fulfilling, not abolishing, Torah.

6️⃣ Galatians in Context

The Error in Galatia:

The Galatians were being taught they must convert to Judaism (circumcision, oral law, and temple rituals) to be saved (Gal 2:3–5).

Paul rebukes this as “another gospel.”
Ritual conversion doesn’t justify — faith in Messiah does.

The Law as a Tutor

“The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Messiah.” — Gal 3:24

The Torah shows us our need for atonement. Once we’ve come to Messiah, we no longer need the tutor to point the way — but we still walk in what it taught.

Messiah didn’t end the lesson — He internalized it.
He moved it from stone to heart.

“This is the covenant… I will put My laws into their hearts.” — Hebrews 10:16

7️⃣ Freedom Defined by Paul

Paul’s “freedom” isn’t the removal of Torah; it’s the removal of condemnation and slavery to sin.

8️⃣ Grace and Law in Harmony

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” — Romans 3:31

Faith establishes Torah because it trusts the Lawgiver.
Grace enables us to live as sons — not as rebels or slaves.

Yeshua Himself said:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15

Paul simply echoed his Master.

9️⃣ Practical Example: Law and Freedom Today

You used a perfect modern analogy:

In every earthly government, law-keepers live free; lawbreakers lose freedom.

The same is true spiritually.
YHVH’s Kingdom operates on eternal principles.
Lawlessness brings bondage — holiness brings peace.

“The law of YHVH is perfect, restoring the soul.” — Psalm 19:7
“Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing causes them to stumble.” — Psalm 119:165

🔟 Closing Summary: Paul’s Gospel of Freedom

Final Thought

True freedom is walking in the Spirit of holiness — not the absence of law, but the joyful fulfillment of it.

“Now YHVH is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of YHVH is, there is liberty.” — 2 Corinthians 3:17
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life.” — Revelation 22:14