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Law and Grace
“And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17).
The Law requires good from a sinner, and as a consequence does not find it. The conclusion of the whole matter is, “There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-13). The Old Testament Law therefore works wrath, and condemns and curses the sinner.
On the other hand, graceworks to produce good in the sinner, by imparting something to him, not requiring good where it is not to be found. Consequently, instead of condemning and cursing the sinner, it puts away his sin. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
What is your standing before God? Can you say with many others, it is “grace wherein we stand” (Romans 5:2)?
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