Grace orLaw?

Many Christians today do not know the answer to the following questions. Are we living under "grace or law"? What are the implications of the answer to this question?

There is a conflict within the Lord's church that reflects back to the days our Lord walked this earth. It is best characterized by the sect of Pharisees. In modern day language the church calls it legalism. It is very prevalent today in many congregations within the brotherhood. Unfortunately many in the church do not really understand what legalism means or the implications of adhering to such a doctrine. Legalism in its purest form simply means to justify ones salvation based on how well the person is able to keep the law of Christ. Unfortunately doing so disregards the death of our Lord and savior who meant for us to be saved by his grace alone. His death was meant to be the sole and complete payment for our sins.

Romans 3:21-26; But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness , because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness , that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

There are several questions one may ask of themselves to determine if he or she is trying to justify themselves through how well they are keeping law. Do you wonder if you are doing enough good works to please the Lord? Are you always wondering if your salvation is in question by this concern?

Fortunately our salvation does not depend on how many works we perform for the Lord. Our salvation depends on our continued trust in the perfect blood of Christ to cleanse our sins.

Romans 4:5-8; But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

Unfortunately many Christians discount scripture which clearly declares God's redemption plan was always meant to be the Gospel or "good news". Even Old Testament scripture clearly points to a gospel of grace through faith. We were never meant to save ourselves through our own efforts at righteousness. Isaiah 64:6; But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.

The promise of a Gospel of "grace" through faith came through the seed of Abraham (Jesus Christ). Grace simply means unmerited favor. The Gospel is a gift to those who believe God's message and change their minds about following a "worldly life". Romans 4:13-15; For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

Jesus Christ ended all self-justification by keeping law and not just the law given to Moses but all law. The promise God made to Abraham was the original foundation of the Gospel long before Moses receive the Law on Mount Sinai. Galatians 3:6-13 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. 10 The Law Brings a Curse for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree").

Sadly many Christians simply replace the law of Moses with the law of Christ and continue to try to justify themselves through their efforts at law keeping. These Christians are forgetting Christ forgiveness is not a one-time pardon that came through their baptism into Christ. It is a continuous cleansing for those who remain in Christ through a continuing faith. Remaining in Christ is not difficult. Galatians 3:21-23; Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

Those who focus on law keeping tend to focus on others. It is the reason many congregations have constant internal conflicts. The parable Jesus gave us of the Pharisee and the tax collector is an example. Luke 18:9-14; Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Paul reminded the Christians in Galatia their righteousness depended solely upon their faith in Jesus Christ rather than their efforts at keeping law.Galatians 2:20-21;I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

God always understood our difficult circumstances after all He created us. He knows our weakness to sin and gave us hope through a Gospel of truly "good news".Psalms 78:38-39;But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath; 39 For He remembered that they were but flesh.

Paul at the council in Jerusalem with the apostles and James recognized clearly that Christians were not saved by law keeping. Acts 15:10-11; Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they."

God's Grace however does not justify willful disregard for God's law. Roman 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

If you do not wish to sin but are overcome, we have a continuing cleansing from our wonderful Savior. Romans 7:14-17;For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

If however you continue to try to justify your salvation by how well you are keeping the law of Christ (because you think you are sinning less than your neighbor) you will never find true peace and you may be jeopardizing your continuing forgiveness God granted to you when you were baptized into Christ. The blood of Christ is the only thing God ever meant to cleanse your sins. Jesus' blood is truly our "good news". May we never forget it.

All references are from the New King James translation of the Bible. © 1982

Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. Romans 16:16