The Advent Truth.
Galatians 5:18 is one of the most abused verses in Scripture:

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

Many assume that means Christians no longer have to obey God’s commandments. But keep reading.

The very next verses list “the works of the flesh”: adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, murder, drunkenness, and more (Gal. 5:19-21). On what basis are these called sins if God’s moral law no longer applies?

Paul answers that himself.

In Romans 7:7 he asks, “Is the law sin? God forbid.” Then he explains, “I had not known sin, but by the law.” He even gives the tenth commandment as his example: “Thou shalt not covet.”

Paul’s definition of sin hasn’t changed. The law reveals what sin is.

So what does “not under the law” mean?

Romans 6:14-15 gives the answer. Paul says believers are “not under the law, but under grace,” and immediately asks, “Shall we sin?” His response is emphatic: “God forbid.”

Clearly, “not under the law” cannot mean we’re free to break it. It means we’re no longer under its condemnation because Christ has paid our penalty.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t abolish God’s law; He writes it in our hearts (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10). Ezekiel 36:26-27 says God gives us His Spirit so that we will walk in His statutes. The Spirit empowers obedience—it never excuses disobedience.

In fact, the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) is a perfect description of the righteous life God’s law has always pointed toward. Love fulfills the law (Rom. 13:8-10), not by replacing it, but by producing genuine obedience from the heart.

Grace saves us from sin’s penalty. The Spirit saves us from sin’s power. Neither gives us permission to continue living in sin.

If being led by the Spirit meant God’s commandments no longer mattered, then the Spirit would be leading people to violate the very law He inspired.

That’s impossible.