Table of Contents  >>  Not under the Torah.

In Galatians 5:18 Paul (Saul, Sha'ul) wrote,

"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."

Does that mean if I am led by the Holy Spirit, I won't keep the Law?

No, in fact it means the exact opposite. The Torah (Law, Instruction) is a gift from God. It describes how to be a blessing to God and to one another. Take an example from our modern system: If I am allowing myself to be led by the Holy Spirit, I won't drive recklessly, so I won't be subject to the penalty of the traffic law.

It's the same with God's Law. If I'm not breaking the Law, I'm not under threat of the penalty in the Law.

The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ) will never lead me to break Torah. We can know this from verses 22-23. First, they list the character traits and actions that are the Fruit of the Spirit. Then verse 23 says, "There's no Law against these things." So by definition, if I'm truly being led by the Spirit, I won't be breaking the Torah.

So Galatians 5:18 is telling us, if you are being led by the Spirit, you are not under (the penalty of) the Law.

How can you be led by the Ruach HaKodesh? Ask for this gift, which we can't create ourselves: the gift of faith in Messiah Yeshua. When you receive this gift, the Father will send the Holy Spirit to live in you. Then you will begin to listen, and to learn, and to respond.

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