Pastor Ronald, does “the law of sin and death” in Romans 8:2 refer to the Ten Commandments, or is it a reference to the sinful nature that Paul explains in Romans 7:23?

Answer:

That’s a thoughtful and important question and one that gets at the heart of Paul’s teaching on sin, law, and grace in Romans.

Let’s look closely at Romans 8:2:

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (KJV)

1. What does “the law of sin and death” mean

When Paul says “the law of sin and death”, he’s not referring to the Ten Commandments (the expression of the absolute moral law given through Moses) as something bad in itself. Instead, he’s describing a spiritual principle or power that rules or a system under which sin dominates humanity and brings death as its consequence.

Paul explains this in the previous chapter:

“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” — Romans 7:23

Here, the “law of sin” is the inner power of sin working within human nature, which theologians often call the sinful nature or the flesh. It’s what causes people, even when they want to do good, to fall short and disobey God. The result of this “law” is death, not just physical death, but spiritual separation from God.

So, in short:

• “Law of sin and death” = the principle or power of sin that leads to death (Romans 7:23).

• “Law of the Spirit of life” = the power of the Holy Spirit that gives new life through Christ (Romans 8:2).

2. Does it refer to the Ten Commandments?

Not directly. The Ten Commandments (and the broader Mosaic Law) reveal what sin is, but they don’t cause sin. Rather, Paul teaches that the law exposes sin but cannot save us from it (Romans 7:7–13). The “law of sin and death” describes the result of trying to live under the law in our own strength; we end up condemned because sin overpowers us.

So the “law of sin and death” isn’t the Ten Commandments themselves, it’s what happens when sinful humanity is confronted by God’s holy standard without the transforming power of the Spirit.

3. Summary

• The “law of sin and death” = the principle or power of sin in fallen human nature that results in death.

• It connects directly to Romans 7:23 (the struggle within man), not to the Ten Commandments as a code.

• Christ, through the Holy Spirit, frees believers from this enslaving “law,” enabling them to live in “the law of the Spirit of life.”

In short, Romans 8:2 refers to the inner power of sin and death ruling fallen humanity, not to the Ten Commandments themselves.

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