Law [ vs. ] Grace

Law vs. GRACE.

"Law vs. grace—why is there so much conflict concerning this issue?"

One side says, “Salvation is by grace and grace alone.”

The other side counters, “That idea leads to lawlessness. GOD'S righteous standard in the Law must be upheld.”

And someone else chimes in with, “Salvation is by Grace, but Grace only comes to those who obey GOD'S Law.”

At the root of the debate are differing views on the basis of salvation.

The importance of the issue helps fuel the intensity of the discussion.

When the Bible speaks of “the law,” it refers to the detailed standard GOD gave to Moses, beginning in Exodus 20 with

The Ten Commandments. GOD'S Law explained His requirements for a holy people and included in it -

Three categories:

1.Civil,

2.Ceremonial,

and 3.Moral laws.

The Law was given to separate GOD'S people from the evil nations around them and to define sin (Ezra 10:11; Romans 5:13; 7:7). The Law also clearly demonstrated that no human being could purify himself enough to please GOD—

i.e., [ the Law revealed ] our need for a SAVIOR. ( A 'Goel' (the Go'el HaDahm ) ( A KINSMEN REDEEMER, NO LESS ! )

This point is almost [ always ] MISSED by practically everyone! (( too busy arguing, perhaps ?? ))

James Chapter 2

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

By New Testament times --

The [ religious ] leadership had hijacked (the Law) and added to it, their own rules and traditions (Mark 7:7–9).

(( And don't think JESUS did not have something to say about this... HE DID ! ))

Matthew 15 -

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if a man says to his father and mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ 6 he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:8 ‘These people honor me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me.9 They worship me in vain;their teachings are but rules taught by men’.”

Deuteronomy 4:2

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

While the Law itself was good, it was weak in that it lacked the power to change a sinful heart (Romans 8:3).

Keeping the Law, ( as interpreted by the Pharisees,) had become an oppressive and overwhelming burden (Luke 11:46).

It was into this legalistic climate that CHRIST JESUS came, and conflict with the hypocritical arbiters of the Law was inevitable.

But JESUS, the Lawgiver, said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). The Law was not evil. It served as a mirror to reveal the condition of a person’s heart -

(Romans 7:7). John 1:17 says, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Jesus embodied the perfect balance between Grace and the Law (John 1:14). The gospel of John is such a wonderful book.

I will provide a link at the end of this post. The link is for the movie, ‘’The Gospel of John.’’( very well done ) !

GOD has always been full of Grace (Psalm 116:5; Joel 2:13), and people have always been saved by faith in GOD (Genesis 15:6). GOD did not change (between) the Old and New Testaments (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 55:19). The same GOD who gave the Law also gave JESUS (John 3:16). His grace was demonstrated through the Law by providing the sacrificial system to cover sin.

Jesus was born “under the law” (Galatians 4:4) and became the final sacrifice to bring the Law to fulfillment and establish the New Covenant (Luke 22:20). Now, everyone who comes to GOD through CHRIST is declared righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:15).

The conflict between JESUS and the self-righteous arose immediately.

Many who had lived for so long under the Pharisees’ oppressive system eagerly embraced the mercy of CHRIST and the freedom HE offered (Mark 2:15). Some, however, saw this new demonstration of grace as dangerous: what would keep a person from casting off all moral restraint?

Paul dealt with this issue in Romans 6:What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?2God forbid.

We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (verses 1—2). Paul clarified what JESUS had taught: the Law shows us what GOD wants (holiness), and Grace gives us the desire and power to be holy.

Rather than trust in the Law to save us, we trust in CHRIST. We are freed from the Law’s bondage by HIS once-for-all sacrifice (Romans 7:6; 1 Peter 3:18).

There is no conflict between grace and the Law, properly understood. CHRIST fulfilled the Law on our behalf and offers the power of the Holy Spirit, who motivates a regenerated heart to live in obedience to HIM (Matthew 3:8; Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:14). James 2:26 says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” A grace that has the power to save also has the power to motivate a sinful heart toward godliness. Where there is no impulse to be godly, there is no saving faith.

We are saved by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). The keeping of the Law cannot save anyone (Romans 3:20; Titus 3:5).

In fact, those who claim righteousness on the basis of their keeping of the Law only think they’re keeping the Law; this was one of JESUS’ main points in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:20–48; see also Luke 18:18–23).

The purpose of the Law was, basically, to bring us to CHRIST (Galatians 3:24). Once we are saved, GOD desires to glorify HIMSELF through our good works (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 2:10).

Therefore, good works follow salvation; they do not precede it.

Conflict between “grace” and the “Law” can and does arise when someone:

(1) misunderstands the purpose of the Law;

(2) redefines grace as something other than “GOD'S benevolence on the undeserving” (see Romans 11:6);

(3) tries to earn his own salvation or “supplement” CHRIST' sacrifice;

(4) follows the error of the Pharisees in tacking man-made rituals and traditions onto his doctrine; ( or )

(5) fails to focus on the “whole counsel of GOD” (Acts 20:27). The Law was ( given through ) Moses --

But Grace and Truth were given through JESUS CHRIST, And the Law Fulfilled - Perfectly.

{ The Law of Moses By the phrase "law of Moses" is meant all that was revealed through Moses. }

The New Testament treats it with great fullness and perspicuity:

Typical Aspects. The law of Moses was only the shadow of good things to come ( Colossians 2:17 ;Hebrews 10:1 ).

Fulfillment. Jesus Christ declared His intention to fulfill every word of the law, Twice ( Matthew 5:17 Matthew 5:18 ),

and HE did it ( Luke 24:44 ).

Its Weakness.

The law could not,bring about justification ( Acts 13:39 );

produce righteousness ( Galatians 2:21 );

produce life ( Galatians 3:21 );

bring about perfection ( Hebrews 7:19 );

or free the conscience from a knowledge of sin ( Hebrews 10:1-4 ).

It is ( Impossible for All Men to Keep It.)

The law was given to and for Israel only ( Exodus 19:1-20:17 ; Malachi 4:4 ;John 1:1-17 ).

Take two proofs of this:

All the males of the Hebrews were commanded to appear before the Lord at a designated place three times a year

( Exodus 23:14-17 ; Exodus 12:4-16 ); those to whom the law was given were commanded, on penalty of death, not to kindle a fire throughout their habitation on the sabbath day ( Exodus 35:1-3 ).

Abolishment of the Law.

1.It is declared,that the law is abolished ( 2 Corinthians 3:6-13 ; Ephesians 2:15 );

2.that Christ is the end of the law ( Romans 10:4 );

3.that it was the ministration of death ( Exodus 32:1-28 ), and that it is "done away" ( 2 Corinthians 3:7 );

4.that Jesus took away the first that HE might establish the second ( Hebrews 10:5-9 );

5.that it was nailed to the cross ( Colossians 2:14-16 );

6.that those who had been under it had been delivered from it ( Romans 7:6 );

7.that they were dead to it ( Romans 7:4 );

8.that they were not under the law, but under grace ( Romans 6:14 );

9.that they were no longer under the schoolmaster ( Galatians 3:24 Galatians 3:25 );

10.that they were not required to serve the law ( Acts 15:1-24 ; Galatians 3:19 );

11.that the Christian who sought justification under the law had fallen from grace ( Galatians 5:4 );

When the HOLY SPIRIT guides our search of Scripture, we can - “study to show ourselves approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15)

and discover the beauty of a Grace that produces good works.

John 7:11-24

Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?

12And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.

13Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

14Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.

15And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

16Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

20The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

21Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

22Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

23If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

24Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Romans

Chapter 10

1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Romans

Chapter 11

1I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

3Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

8(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

9And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles,

for to provoke them to jealousy.

12Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root beholy, so are the branches.

17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in hisgoodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom beglory for ever. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47OkuvT5JFo&t=2994s