Law and Grace

From: Young Christian: Volume 12, 1922

• 2 min. read • grade level: 4

The law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17¹⁷For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)).

The law demands obedience; grace produces obedience. (Exod. 24:3³And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. (Exodus 24:3); Titus 2:11, 12¹¹For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ¹²Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:11‑12)).

The law says, “Do and live”; grace says, “Live and do”. (Rom. 10:5⁵For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (Romans 10:5); 1 Cor. 6:19, 20¹⁹What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? ²⁰For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19‑20)).

The law makes the offense abound; grace has over abounded. (Rom. 5:20²⁰Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20)).

The law condemns sinners; grace delivers them. (2 Cor. 3:9⁹For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:9); Eph. 2:8⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)).

The law is a schoolmaster; grace brings to the Father. (Gal. 3:25, 26²⁵But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. ²⁶For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:25‑26)).

The law was given to Israel; grace flows out to all. (Rom. 4:4⁴Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (Romans 4:4); Titus 2:11¹¹For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (Titus 2:11)).

The law was given in one language; grace goes out in all. (Exod. 32:15¹⁵And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. (Exodus 32:15); Act 2:1-12¹And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ⁵And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. ⁶Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. ⁷And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? ⁸And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? ⁹Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. ¹²And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? (Acts 2:1‑12)).

The law addresses man in the flesh; grace creates anew. (1 Tim. 1:9; 2⁹Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (1 Timothy 1:9) Cor. 5:17).

“By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Rom. 3:20²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)).

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.” (Gal. 2:16¹⁶Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)).

“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Rom. 10:4⁴For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4)).

“If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Gal. 2:21²¹I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21)).

The believer is

“not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:15¹⁵What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (Romans 6:15)).

“By grace are ye saved through faith,” (Eph. 2:8⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)).

“But is not the law our rule of life when we are saved?” demand many. No; “for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (or, creation). And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy,” (Gal 6:15, 16¹⁵For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. ¹⁶And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:15‑16)). “To me to live is Christ;” (not the law). “He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” (1 John 2:6⁶And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. (John 2:6).)

But we can fall from grace, can we not? Yes; but what does it mean? Falling from grace refers to a believer, who knows the grace of God, going back to law, not losing grace and falling into hell. (Gal. 5:4⁴Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:4)). Falling away refers to mere professors. (Heb. 6:6⁶If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:6)).

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