Law and Grace

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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There is always a strong tendency in us to “savor the things of men” in the things of God. We put our construction upon the thoughts of God and draw our own inferences from them, not realizing that they are not like our thoughts, but infinitely higher and more blessed (Isa. 55:8-98For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8‑9)). Thus we debase God’s thoughts. Look, for example, at liberty; how wide is the distinction between the human and divine thought on this very point! Liberty, according to man, is willfulness — every restraint taken from the human will, issuing in the very worst form of corruption and apostasy. The Jews in their worst state of bondage, both temporal and spiritual, had the audacity to say, “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man; how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” How solemn the reply of Jesus to these boasters of their freedom: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant [slave] of sin” (John 8:34-3534Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. (John 8:34‑35)). The Apostle Peter very plainly shows that in the days in which we live, the loudest boasters of liberty are themselves miserable slaves of corruption (2 Peter 2:18-1918For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (2 Peter 2:18‑19)). We are called unto “liberty” — not a liberty for the flesh to act, but for us to serve.
Christians are often led to connect their worship and their service with their salvation. But the truth is, they are made free by Christ in order to worship, to serve God, and serve their brethren; yea, and to serve all men, so far as they can. The gospel is the law of liberty, the law of love. And how easy and blessed is the law of love: Love has a constraining power; the law, rather a restraining power. The law of liberty is not, “Thou shalt not,” but its language is, “I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart” (Psa. 119:3232I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. (Psalm 119:32)). Until the question of our individual acceptance is settled, the heart is not “enlarged” to serve God. We are made free from sin by the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, in order to become servants of God. Real liberty and true holiness are inseparably connected together. “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” sets free from the law of sin and death. When really free ourselves, instead of judging others, we are free to intercede for them, knowing the grace in which we ourselves stand. A legal spirit is ever a fault-finding spirit. If we were more in the region of grace, we should be less in the region of judgment. But the moment we become legal, we bite and devour one another, instead of ministering grace one to another, cheering one another onward, so as to enable us to tread with a lighter step this weary wilderness.
J. L. Harris (adapted)