"Grace, Faith and the law."

We “ARE” - Justified by Faith, not works ! Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28. ( All )- We are all sinners, involved in guilt and condemnation- and so, cannot [be] justified by the law, whether natural [or] revealed. Yet - GOD has appointed - (another way) of justification, so that (we) then, may draw this conclusion... that a man is justified — That is, to be accounted righteous, accepted and dealt with as such; By Faith ! By believing in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and in the mercy and grace of GOD, and the truths and promises of the gospel through him. See also: Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:16; Romans 4:24. Without the deeds of the law — Without (perfect obedience) to any law, as the meritorious cause of his justification. Romans

Chapter 4

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What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

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For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

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For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

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Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

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But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

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Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

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Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

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Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

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Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

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How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

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And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

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And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

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For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

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For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

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Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

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Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

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(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

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Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

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And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

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He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

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And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

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And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

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Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

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But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

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Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. GOD will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, ( if ) we were saved by our own works, (and we are not)- boasting would [not] be excluded. But - the way of justification by faith forever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; Because ‘faith’ - in a sense, [is] a law. It is a ‘working grace’, (wherever it is in truth). By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but by forming the relation between CHRIST and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be (pardoned and justified) for the sake of the Savior, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The law is (still of use) to (convince us) of what is past, and to (direct us) for the future... The Messianic kingdom (cannot) have anything to do with law; for if it had -- faith and the promise would cease to have any office. { Faith and law cannot co-exist. } They are ( POLAR )opposites of each other. The proper effect of law is punishment; ( for law [only] exposes sin. ) Faith, on the other hand, is the real key to the inheritance. It sets in motion Grace; and grace, (unlike law), (( Excludes No One. )) ! For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith [is made void], and the promise made of none effect:*

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

*[Is made void.]—Literally, emptied of its meaning, becomes an empty name, and the promise is rendered nugatory. There is nothing left for either to do, if the votaries of law, simply as such, are to be the inheritors of the Messianic kingdom. But in reality, the Law is unable to admit them to this. It has an entirely contrary function—namely, (to call down punishment) upon the offences that it reveals. The Law and faith, therefore, (mutually exclude) each other, and faith is left to be the sole arbiter of salvation. *[Where no law is.]—Transgression is: ex vi termini, meaning: ‘from the force of the boundary’ - by implication. the transgression or breach of law, and therefore has no existence in that age of unconscious morality which precedes the introduction of law. “GRACE”: the unmerited favor of GOD toward mankind. (( No one )) -can return to the presence of GOD, without divine grace. “MERCY” : Compassionate or (kindly forbearance) shown toward an [offender]. To summarize the difference: “Mercy” is GOD (not) punishing us as our sins (deserve), “Grace” is GOD ‘blessing us’ [despite] the fact, that (we) do not [deserve] it. Mercy is deliverance from judgment- ( judgement according to the law ) Grace, is extending kindness to the unworthy.” The law worketh ‘wrath’, by showing that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure. The promise was made to Abraham (long before) the law. It points at CHRIST, and it refers to the promise, Genesis 12:3. As GOD intended to give men a title to the promised blessings, so HE appointed it to be by faith, that it might be wholly [of] grace, to make it sure to all who were of the like faith with Abraham, whether (Jews or Gentiles), in all ages. The justification and salvation of sinners, By taking to HIMSELF the Gentiles who had not yet Been defined as a people, were a gracious calling of things (as though they were); and this ‘gift’ - this grace, this mercy, proves the almighty power of GOD. At its most fundamental core, “mercy” is “forgiveness”. The Bible speaks of GOD’S love for sinners – (that is, for all of us). But the Bible also relates mercy to other qualities beyond love and forgiveness.

Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. The Law (reveals)-- GOD’S Grace and Mercy, Through HIS Love, (Heals.) *[But go ye and learn] ... - To reprove them, and to vindicate HIS own conduct, (by example)-- JESUS appealed to a passage of Scripture with which they ought to have been well acquainted: "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice," Hosea 6:6. This is (not) a declaration on the part of GOD that HE was opposed to "sacrifices" or "offerings for sin;" for HE had appointed and commanded many, and had therefore expressed HIS approbation of them. It is a Hebrew mode of speaking, and means, (("I prefer mercy to sacrifice;")) or, (("I am more pleased with acts of benevolence and kindness than with a mere external compliance with the duties of religion.")) Mercy (here) means, ‘benevolence’ or ‘kindness’ toward others. "Sacrifices" were offerings made to GOD on account [of] sin, or as an expression of thanksgiving. These sacrifices ( only ) covered the ‘sin’ - ( which was exposed [by] the law.) JESUS CHRIST came, and took them away, Once and for All. No human beings are by nature righteous. The Pharisees, however, "pretended" to be righteous. Those that are whole - (thinking they need no help) (as the Pharisees account themselves)-- thought they had no need of JESUS coming in amongst them. They were righteous in (their own eyes) - They ‘thought’ they were justified (because of) the law, And were not willing to entertain This JESUS fellow, so it seems. So the phrase , "what that is", or "what that meaneth", is Talmudic, as, "what is it?" , "what is that which is written?" , "what is the Scripture?" that is, what is the meaning of it? (Our LORD speaks in their own dialect), and ‘tacitly’ reproves their ignorance of the Scriptures; and instead of finding fault with, HE intimates, that it would better become them, to endeavor to find out the meaning of that passage in Hosea 6:6 "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice"; which, if rightly understood, was sufficient to silence all their cavils and objections. HE ( GOD ) wrote The Law. HE ( GOD ) exposed ( sin ) by The Law - HE ( GOD ) made the atonement for the breaking of the law. HE ( GOD ) in effect - Fulfilled said Law. JESUS’ purpose was to establish the Word, to embody it, and to fully accomplish [all] that was written. “Christ [is] the culmination of the law”-Romans 10:4. Hebrews 9:24

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.. The ceremonies, sacrifices, and other elements of the Old Covenant were “only a shadow of the good things that [are] coming—not the realities themselves” (Hebrews 10:1). The tabernacle and temple were “holy places made with hands,” but they were never meant to be permanent; they were but “copies of the true things” -- ‘Shadows’ of better things to come. In HIS fulfillment of the Law and Prophets, [JESUS] obtained our eternal salvation, and NOT the law. There are ( STILL )- some who argue that, since JESUS did [not] “abolish” the Law, then the Law is still in effect —and still binding on New Testament Christians. No ! Paul is clear that the believer in CHRIST is (no longer under the Law): “We were held in custody under the Law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the Law became our guardian to [lead us] to CHRIST, that (we) might be justified. How? By (faith). Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian” (Galatians 3:23–26). But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

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Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

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But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

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For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

We are not under the Mosaic Law but under “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. { 'The Law of CHRIST'

IS } -- As most Bible teachers understand the law of CHRIST to be... Mark 12:28-31, And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.