It seems it is time for our monthly debate about this again. I really don't know how people can be so confused about this.
On one hand we have a few scriptures that mention grace and "the law".
John 1:17; For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
Rom 4:16; For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
Rom 5:20; The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
Rom 6:14; For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Rom 6:15; What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
Gal 2:21; "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."
Gal 5:4; You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Paul mentions NOT being under the law several times.
Rom 3:28; For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Gal 3:11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
I believe the confusion stems from the fact people don't really know what "the law" is.
On the other hand (is it really the other hand?) We are told to keep the commandments over a dozen times.
Matt 5:19; "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 19:17; And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Matt 22:40; "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
Mark 10:19; "You know the commandments, 'DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"
Luke 1:6; They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
Luke 18:20; "You know the commandments, 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"
John 14:15; "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:21; "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."
John 15:10; "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
1 Cor 7:19 ; Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.
1 Jn 2:3; By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 Jn 2:4; The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1 Jn 3:22; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 Jn 3:24; The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
1 Jn 5:2; By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.
1 Jn 5:3; For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
2 Jn 1:6; And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
Rev 12:17; So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Rev 14:12; Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
We even have over a dozen verses that say fruit and works are required. So does the Bible conflict itself? Not at all.
Even is trying to redefine all of this. Why?
1. You never proved "not under law" means "should not obey law", so you haven't proven your point.
2. Paul said DO NOT SIN (Rom.6:15), which means DO NOT DISOBEY TORAH (Rom.3:20;7:7), which means OBEY TORAH! Thus you are disconfirmed.
3. Jn. 1:17 does NOT say that the Law of Moses and the grace/truth of Christ are mutually exclusive. So Jn.1:17 does NOT support your position.
4. Rom. 4:16 affirms Abraham. Abraham obeyed TORAHS (Ge. 26:5). So, we should ALSO obey TORAH available to us, just like our father Abraham. Thus, you are disconfirmed.
5. Rom. 5:20 does NOT say "so that transgression would increase" is the ONLY purpose of the law. Thus, you haven't proven your point.
6. Rom. 6:14 says we are under grace. Those under grace properly obey TORAH (Ex. 33:13). Thus, you haven't proven your point.
7. Rom. 6:15 says we should NOT sin (i.e., NOT disobey Torah, given Rom. 3:20;7:7). Thus, you are immediately refuted! WE SHOULD OBEY TORAH!
8. Of COURSE righteousness does not come by law (without grace, Gal. 2:21). That does NOT prove that righteousness does not properly accompany grace. Again, you've failed to prove your opposition to Torah-obedience.
9. Of COURSE we are not justified by law without faith (Gal. 5:4-5). That's why Paul says we ARE justified by law (Rom.2:13) when we obey it in faith (Rom.10:8 cites Dt. 30:14 FAVORABLY). You are disconfirmed again.
10. Of COURSE we are not justified by faithless works of law (Rom.3:28). That does NOT prove that we should not faithfully obey Torah. You have failed to prove your point, yet agian.
11. Gal. 3:11 cites Hab. 2:4 (Heb. "אֱמוּנָה") which entails TORAH (see "אֱמוּנָה" in Ps. 119:30,86,138). Thus, Gal. 3;11 immediately refutes you! We SHOULD faithfully obey Torah (Gal. 3:11), not FAITHLESSLY obey Torah (Gal. 5:4-5).
12. What is the "law"? It is the TORAH OF MOSES! (Hebrew "תּוֹרָה", passes directly into the NEW Covenant, Jer. 31:33 cited in Heb. 8:10;10:16). Conclusion: New Covenant participants should obey Torah!
13. Of COURSE the commandments are the written Torah of Moses! 1 Kings 2:3 proves this plainly.
14. Mt. 5:19 proves we should obey even the SMALLEST of Torah commands.
15. Mt. 4:4 proves we LIVE by obeying Torah.
16. Mt. 5:20 proves we should obey Torah BETTER than the Pharisees.
17. Mt. 7:21-23 proves that the Torah-disobedient religious people are cast awway.
18. Mt. 13:41-42 proves that Torah-disobedient people may be consumed by fiery judgment.
19. Mt. 5:18 proves that Torah is STILL in force (because Dt. 30:1-8 is NOT yet fulfilled).
20. Lk. 10:25-28 proves we have ETERNAL LIFE if we obey Torah.
21. Mt. 22:37 applies Dt. 6 to YOU. Dt. 6 (in context) requires obedience to ALL Torah (Dt. 6:25).
22. Mt. 23:2-3 proves we should obey Torah.
23. Mt. 23:23 proves we should obey even the small elements of Torah.
24. Mt. 23:34 proves that Jesus sends forth TORAH-TEACHERS to represent HIs ministry. STOP OPPOSING TORAH-TEACHERS AUTHORIZED BY JESUS!
25. Paul applies the commands to YOU (1Cor.7:19) which, of course, are contained in the written Torah of Moses (1Ki.2:3).
26. John applies the commands to YOU (1Jn.5:3) which, of course, are contained in the written Torah of Moses.
27. Paul says we PARTAKE in the Torah covenant (Eph.2:12).
28. Jesus inaugurates the NEW Covenant (Lk.22) in which we should obey TORAH (Jer. 31:31-33).
We could go on and on....
CONCLUSION: Christians should grow in faithful obedience to Torah.
blessings....