Have you ever wondered why there seems to be so much confusion about righteousness and the Law of Elohim? Why do some believers insist the Torah has been abolished while others hold fast to its instructions? The answer lies in understanding Scripture as a whole, without pulling verses out of context. It’s time to uncover what righteousness and lawlessness really mean, from the foundation of the Torah to the teachings of Y’shu’ah HaMashiach and the writings of the apostles. You’ve probably heard it before: “We’re not under the Law anymore, we’re under grace.” It’s a common phrase, often tossed around as a quick explanation for why believers no longer have to follow the commandments of Elohim—His Torah. But have you ever paused to consider what that really means? Did Yahuah, who gave us His perfect instructions, suddenly change His mind? Did Y’shu’ah HaMashiach (Jesus) come to deliver us from obedience to Yahuah, or to show us how to live it out perfectly?
This isn’t about debating opinions; it’s about returning to what the Word of Yahuah actually says. We’ll look at how Paul’s words have been misunderstood, how Y’shu’ah exemplified obedience, and why lawlessness remains a dangerous deception. Let’s take our time and explore this deeply—after all, our understanding of righteousness is critical to our walk with Yahuah.
Let’s dig into this topic together, not brushing past the surface but diving deep. When we do, we’ll see that righteousness and lawlessness are as clear as day and night, and Yahuah’s Word leaves no room for confusion.
"Not Under the Law" – What Did Paul Really Mean?
Ah, the famous statement: “You are not under the law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). This phrase has been used over and over again to argue that Yahuah’s Torah (Law) has been done away with. But is that what Paul really meant? Not at all.
Let’s break this down. First, Paul says, “Sin shall not be master over you.” What is sin? It’s crucial to define this because if we misunderstand sin, we’ll misunderstand Paul’s entire argument.When Paul wrote, “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14) or “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18), he wasn’t tossing out Yahuah’s Torah. Not even close. In fact, he was pointing to a deeper truth about sin, grace, and what it means to walk in the Spirit.
First, we have to ask: What is sin?
The Bible defines sin plainly in 1 John 3:4: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
In other words, sin is breaking the Torah—Yahuah’s instructions. That’s the biblical definition. So when Paul says we are “not under the law,” he’s not saying we are free to sin. Instead, he means that we are no longer under the penalty of the Law—the condemnation that comes when we break it.
Think about it this way: If you obey the speed limit, you’re not “under the law” because you aren’t subject to its penalties. But if you speed and get caught, you are under the law—you face its consequences.
Paul clarifies this immediately in Romans 6:15-16:
“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Elohim forbid! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey—whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”
Here’s the key: Grace doesn’t free us from obedience. Grace frees us from condemnation so we can walk in obedience. This is a massive difference. Grace doesn’t give us permission to ignore Yahuah’s instructions; it empowers us to live according to them.
Cross References:
Romans 3:31: “Do we then nullify the Torah through faith? Elohim forbid! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.”
James 2:17-18: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead... I will show you my faith by my works.”
Paul is not arguing against the Torah; he is showing us the role of grace in freeing us from sin and empowering us to walk righteously.
Think of it like this: If you’re driving the speed limit, are you worried about being pulled over and fined? Of course not. You’re not “under the law” because you’re walking in obedience to it. But if you break the speed limit, you’re under the authority of the law and subject to its penalties.
Paul explains it further in Romans 6:15-16:
“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey—whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”
See the contrast? Grace doesn’t make lawlessness acceptable. Grace empowers us to walk in obedience. Grace frees us from the penalty of sin so that we can walk in Yahuah’s righteousness.
Cross References:
Romans 3:31: “Do we then nullify the Torah through faith? Elohim forbid! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.”
James 2:17: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
True faith leads to obedience. Paul wasn’t abolishing the Torah—he was restoring it to its rightful place as a guide for righteous living.
Sin and Righteousness: Two Opposing Paths
Now, if sin is lawlessness (breaking the Torah), then righteousness must be the opposite: obedience to Yahuah’s instructions. This isn’t my opinion—it’s what the Bible says. Scripture makes this connection repeatedly, showing that righteousness is not some abstract idea but a life lived according to Yahuah’s instructions.
Deuteronomy 6:25: “Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before Yahuah our Elohim, as He has commanded us.”
Do you see that? Obedience to Yahuah’s commandments—His Torah—is the very definition of righteousness. It’s not about earning salvation but about walking in alignment with the path and will of Elohim.
Y’shu’ah affirmed this truth over and over:
John 14:15: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Matthew 5:17-18: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Torah till all is fulfilled.”
Now let’s pause here. What does “fulfill” mean? In the Hebraic context, to “fulfill” (plēroō) means to bring to fullness or to live out perfectly. Y’shu’ah did not abolish the Torah—He embodied it and showed us how to follow it in spirit and truth. Y’shu’ah’s message was not one of abolishing the Torah but of living it out fully, showing us what it looks like to walk in righteousness.
Cross References:
Psalm 119:142: “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Torah is truth.”
Isaiah 42:21: “Yahuah is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will exalt the Torah and make it honorable.”
The Torah is Yahuah’s standard for righteousness, and it hasn’t changed. It was given to guide us into a life of blessing, not to burden us with legalism. Righteousness is rooted in obedience to Yahuah’s Torah, which is eternal and unchanging.
The Spirit of Elohim and the New Covenant
Here’s where it gets exciting and even better. Under the New Covenant, Yahuah didn’t do away with the Torah. Instead, He promised to write it on our hearts and empower us to walk in it by His Spirit.
Ezekiel 36:27: “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”
Jeremiah 31:33: “I will put My Torah in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”
This changes everything. The Spirit of Elohim doesn’t lead us away from the Torah but toward it. Walking “in the Spirit” means walking in obedience to Yahuah’s instructions, not against them.Isn’t that amazing? The Spirit of Elohim doesn’t lead us away from the Torah but toward obedience. Walking in the Spirit and obeying the Torah are not opposites—they’re intertwined.
So, when Paul says, “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law” (Galatians 5:18), he’s not saying the Torah is irrelevant. He’s saying that those who are led by the Spirit are walking in obedience to Yahuah’s ways, and therefore, they are not under its condemnation.
Cross References:
Romans 8:4: “That the righteous requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
The Spirit leads us back to Yahuah’s Word, which is His Torah.
The First Sin: A Lesson in Lawlessness
It’s fascinating—and sobering— From the very beginning, lawlessness—rejecting Yahuah’s instructions—was the root of sin to realize that the first act of sin in the Bible was an act of lawlessness.
Genesis 2:16-17: “And Yahuah Elohim commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”
What did the serpent say?
Genesis 3:1: “Has Elohim indeed said...?”
Sound familiar? The same lie is still whispered today: “Did Elohim really say you have to follow His commandments?”
Adam and Eve believed the lie, disobeyed Yahuah’s command, and introduced death into the world. It all began with rejecting Yahuah’s instructions—lawlessness.
Romans 5:19: “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”
Y’shu’ah, the second Adam, reversed this curse by walking in perfect obedience to the Torah.
The Modern Deception: Lawlessness in Disguise
Today, many believers dismiss Yahuah’s commandments as “old”, “irrelevant,” or “done away with.” But who do you think is behind that deception—the Righteous One or the Lawless One?
The Sabbath Day: Many say it doesn’t matter when you rest, even though Yahuah sanctified the seventh day (Genesis 2:3, Exodus 20:8-11).
The dietary instructions: People argue that the food laws in Leviticus 11 no longer apply, even though Yahuah calls them “clean” and “unclean.”
God’s Feasts: Replaced by man-made holidays like Christmas and Easter.
Tattoos: Celebrated, despite Leviticus 19:28 forbidding them.
Each of these examples points back to the same issue: rejection of Yahuah’s instructions. Lawlessness dressed up as freedom.
Conclusion: Return to Obedience
At the end of the day, this is about more than rules or regulations. It’s about relationship. Yahuah gave His Torah as a gift—a blueprint for righteous living, a way to draw close to Him. Rejecting it is not freedom; it’s lawlessness.
Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of Elohim and the faith of Y’shu’ah.”
Which path will you choose? Will you follow the Lawless One into rebellion, or will you follow Y’shu’ah into righteousness and life?
The choice is yours. Choose wisely.
Discussion Questions
What does Paul mean when he says, “You are not under the Law but under grace” (Romans 6:14)? How does context help clarify this statement?
How does the Bible define sin, and what is its connection to lawlessness? Use 1 John 3:4 and supporting verses to explain.
How did Y’shu’ah HaMashiach live out the Torah, and what does His example teach us about righteousness?
What role does the Spirit of Elohim play in empowering believers to walk in obedience? (Ezekiel 36:27)
Why is rejecting the Torah described as lawlessness? What are some modern examples of this deception in the lives of believers?
"Fill in the Blank" Study Questions
“Whoever commits sin also commits ___________, and sin is __________.” (1 John 3:4)
Paul says in Romans 3:31, “Do we then nullify the Torah through faith? __________! On the contrary, we __________ the Torah.”
Y’shu’ah said in John 14:15, “If you __________ Me, keep My __________.”
The New Covenant promise in Jeremiah 31:33 says, “I will put My __________ in their minds, and write it on their __________.”
According to Romans 6:16, we are slaves to whom we __________—either sin leading to __________ or obedience leading to righteousness.
Ezekiel 36:27 says, “I will put My __________ within you and cause you to __________ in My statutes.”
Y’shu’ah said in Matthew 5:18 that not one jot or tittle will pass from the Torah until __________ and __________ pass away.
Answer Sheets
Discussion Question Answers
Romans 6:14: Paul refers to believers being freed from the penalty of the Torah, not the Torah itself. Grace empowers obedience rather than excusing sin. (Romans 6:15-16)
1 John 3:4: Sin is defined as breaking Yahuah’s Torah. Lawlessness is rebellion against His instructions. Sin separates us from Him.
Y’shu’ah perfectly lived out the Torah, teaching and fulfilling it (Matthew 5:17). His life demonstrated how to obey Yahuah with love and humility.
The Spirit of Elohim writes the Torah on our hearts and empowers us to walk in obedience (Ezekiel 36:27, Jeremiah 31:33).
Lawlessness is rejecting Yahuah’s instructions. Examples include dismissing the Sabbath, dietary laws, and replacing Yahuah’s feasts with man-made traditions.
Fill-in-the-Blank Answers
lawlessness, lawlessness (1 John 3:4)
Elohim forbid, establish (Romans 3:31)
love, commandments (John 14:15)
Torah, hearts (Jeremiah 31:33)
obey, death (Romans 6:16)
Spirit, walk (Ezekiel 36:27)
heaven, earth (Matthew 5:18)
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