Release from the Law
(Galatians 3:15–25)

1Knowe, ye not brethre (for I speake to the that knowe the lawe) how that the law hath power ouer a ma, as long as he lyueth? 2For the woman which is in subiectio to a man, is bounde by the lawe to the man, as long as he lyueth: But yf the man be dead, she is loosed from the lawe of the man. 3So then yf whyle the man lyueth, she couple her selfe with another man, she shalbe counted a wedlocke breaker: But yf the man be dead, she is free from the law, so that she is no wedlocke breaker, though she couple her selfe with another man.

4Euen so, ye also my brethren, are dead concernyng the lawe by the body of Christe, that ye shoulde be coupled to another, who is raysed from the dead, that we shoulde bryng foorth fruite vnto God. 5For when we were in the fleshe, the lustes of sinne whiche were by the lawe wrought in our members, to bring forth fruite vnto death. 6But nowe are we delyuered from the lawe, and dead vnto it whervnto we were in bondage, that we shoulde serue in newenesse of spirite, and not in the oldnesse of the letter.

God’s Law Is Holy

7What shall we say then? Is the lawe sinne? God forbyd. Neuerthelesse, I knewe not sinne, but by the lawe: For I had not knowen lust, except the lawe had sayde, thou shalt not lust. 8But sinne, takyng occasion by the commaundement, wrought in me all maner of concupiscence. For without the lawe, sinne was dead. 9I once lyued without lawe: But when the commaundement came, sinne reuyued, 10And I was dead. And the very same commaundemet, which was ordeyned vnto lyfe, was founde to be vnto me an occasion of death. 11For sinne, takyng occasion by the commaundement, hath deceaued me, and by the same slewe me. 12Wherfore the lawe is holy, and the commaundement holy, & iust and good.

Struggling with Sin

13Was that then which was good, made death vnto me? God forbyd. But sinne, that sinne myght appeare, by that which was good to worke death in me: that sinne by ye commaundement, myght be out of measure sinfull.

14For we knowe, that the lawe is spirituall: but I am carnall, solde vnder sinne. 15For that which I do, I alowe not. For what I woulde, that do I not: but what I hate, that do I. 16If I do nowe that which I woulde not, I consent vnto the lawe, that it is good. 17Nowe then, it is not I that do it: but sinne that dwelleth in me. 18For I knowe, that in me, that is to say in my fleshe, dwelleth no good thyng. For to wyll, is present with me: but I fynde no meanes to perfourme that which is good. 19For the good that I woulde, do I not: But the euyll which I woulde not, that do I. 20And yf I do that I woulde not, then is it not I that doth it, but sinne that dwelleth in me.

21I fynde then by the lawe, that when I woulde do good, euyll is present with me. 22For I delite in the lawe of God, after the inwarde man: 23But I see another lawe in my members, rebellyng agaynst the lawe of my mynde, and subduyng me vnto the lawe of sinne, which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am: Who shall deliuer me from the body of this death? 25I thanke God through Iesus Christe our Lorde. So then, with the mynde I my selfe serue the lawe of God: but with the fleshe, the lawe of sinne.