Law versus Grace, 2

~ Both are Necessary for Salvation! ~   

Background ~ A previous “Law versus Grace” posting was published by ALN a year ago (on July 6, 2010). It has proven to be among the most frequently read postings and can be accessed from the left column of this page (either by date or by topic). That posting was from a traditional viewpoint—the thrust was comparisons between the Law contained in the Old Testament and the emphasis on grace in the New Testament.

Concern ~ Unfortunately, the modern Christian message often downplays the role of the Law in the process of individual conversion. Even the title of my two postings, “Law vs. Grace” implies that the two are opposing factors. In reality both are vital and critical to the salvation of any individual. Better titles would be “Law and Grace” or “The Interaction of Law and Grace.” However, I continue to use “Law vs. Grace” since that is the common topic of wide interest. 

Premise ~ It is a sick man who seeks the doctor! Unfortunately millions die every year around the world because they are unaware of their illness. Millions more die because they have no access to adequate medical care. 

Salvation is like that (Matthew 9:12). First you must realize you are sick at your very core—you have an illness. Second, you must seek help and apply the remedy. Mankind, since the Fall (Genesis 3), has an incurable disease. God the Father has provided the solution through the death of His absolutely sinless Son Jesus Christ on your behalf.

In other words, without the Law an individual will never receive or understand their correct diagnosis. The correct diagnosis includes a personal understanding that “you have sinned and fallen short of God’s demands” (Romans 3:23). Without the grace of the one true God there is no remedy! (Acts 4:12).    

Our Example ~ Jesus Christ, while on earth and confronting sinners, first dealt with the pride of their human hearts by using the Law. God’s concern is that we understand our lack of true righteousness. Notice that in Christ’s ministry He did not initially emphasize our happiness. He said that unless our righteousness exceeded that of the religious people of His day (Scribes and Pharisees) we could not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20). In the next chapter He said that we must pursue the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). But He also assures us that those who are sincerely hungering and thirsting for righteousness will have their appetite filled (Matthew 5:6).

Now this is at the heart of the problem. In our natural state we do not seek God or His righteousness. We are too proud. No one seeks after God (Romans 3:11, John 3:19-20). It is God who seeks the sinner (Luke 19:10). A realistic understanding of the Law and God’s standards strips away our pride. In other words, it is “Law for the Proud.” Take a quick review of the Law now.    

    

The 10 Commandments ~ Consider a key part of God’s Law—the Ten Commandments. Note that these are not the 10 “suggestions.” Here is Exodus 20:1-17.

[1]  Worship only Me—the one and only true God.  

[2]  No idols—nothing should be more important to you than I am. ** Has anything ever been more important to you than your relationship with God?   

[3]  Never use my name carelessly—no cursing using My name.

[4]  On Sundays be sure to remember and honor your Creator.

(Notice that the first four commandments relate to our relationship with our Maker!)   

[5]  Always honor your parents.  

[6]  Do not murder. ** “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ [Idiot] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:21-22).

[7]  Be sexually pure—no adultery. ** Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). 

[8]  Do not steal.   

[9]  Never lie. ** White lies and half truths are lies in God’s eyes!    

[10]  Do not be envious or jealous. ** On the contrary when our rival succeeds we are to be joyful. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:14-15).

About 1400 years after the Law was given, Jesus Christ summarized it when He said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).

Once an individual understands his inner corruptness and inability to save himself, he is ready to receive the grace of God. It is a matter of “Grace for the humble.” 

Basic Principle #1 ~ “Law for the Proud and Grace for the Humble.”

Basic Principle #2 ~ “Effective witness or evangelism begins with the Law.” Grace is meaningless to the self-righteous and proud. 

Summary ~ “Law for the Proud and Grace for the Humble.” Jesus Christ on earth never offered grace to the proud. “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). “Those who are proud are despicable to God” (Proverbs 16:5). 

Throughout history God has used the Law to humble people in order that they are capable of responding to His grace. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great English preacher of the 1800s, put it this way, “They must be slain by the Law before they can be made alive by the gospel.”   

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus Christ said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:10-11). This is the path to “Abundant Life Now” and an eternal future with God.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW