Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
When a person puts their faith in Jesus, they become accountable to the law of God and they are “in the Law”.
2 Corinthians 3:6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones…
The Ten Commandments can not give or impart life. Its letters can only condemn sinners when the Law is violated. The imparting of life requires the imparting of grace, which teaches a person to abstain from ungodliness, (Titus 2:11-12). Man is not capable of teaching abstinence from sin, Eph 2:8. God’s grace will only teach a humble person to abstain from sin, James 4:6.
Ga 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. Ro 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
An unbeliever who is alive but “without the Law” or outside of the Law of God is destined to perish.
All Christians are “in the Law” of God, being either obedient or disobedient. Being in the Law and “obeying it” means being subject to or under the authority of grace and cooperating with it by abstaining from ungodliness. Being in the law and “disobeying it” means being under the authority of the Law. Christians who are “under the Law” have sinned and violated the law of Love. The Law has become the authority over them and they are subject to its disciplinary process, Mt 18:23-34. They will be chastened accordingly, and then released so they will not be condemned, 1 Cor 11:32. A Christian should learn not to sin or they will have to repeat this judgment process.
2 Cor 3:8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. The ministry of the Spirit is a ministry of righteousness. Man’s ministry involves distributing or becoming a steward of God’s Grace (1Pet 4:10). Teaching a person to cooperate with grace and live in a righteous manner, or to do what is right in God’s eyes.