5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:5-6 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
As if Apostle Paul had said, “When we lived under the dispensation of the law and were married to the law, we brought forth fruit suitable to that state and condition. But now being freed from the law, and married unto Christ, it is meet and right, equal and fit, that we should bring forth fruit answerable to our more excellent state and condition. That now we serve God with new hearts and lives by the Spirit of Christ, according to the law of grace, and not carnally in the bondage and terror of the old law, called here the oldness of the letter.”
Learn hence, 1. That all sincere and serious Christians who are dead to the law, and espoused to Christ, ought to bring forth fruit to God, suitable to their noble estate, and most honourable condition. Freedom and deliverance from the rigour and curse of the law ought to bind us more strongly to God, to love and serve him, to glorify and obey him.
Learn, 2. That all true believers, who are freed from the rigour and curse of the law, ought to serve the Lord in true holiness both of heart and life and to yield new and universal obedience to him.
This the apostle here calls the newness of the Spirit to intimate to us that new obedience is the work of the Holy Spirit in us, as the author of all grace and sanctification. And whereas the newness of the Spirit is opposed to the oldness of the letter; that is, the ministry of the law which is itself a dead letter, discovering sin, but not discovered how sin may be either pardoned or subdued; we may gather, That the law of God, and indeed the whole word of God, without the Spirit, is but a dead letter, unable to work grace and holiness in us, or to excite and quicken us unto newness of life.
Whenever then we place ourselves under the word, let us pray with David, Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may see the wonderous things of thy law.