Law vs Grace: The System of Law-Keeping vs God’s System of Salvation by Grace through Faith in Christ

After the fall of mankind in the Garden, the law as it concerns its divine intent, was never designed to be permanent but only to act as the divine sword and standard that revealed the vile wretchedness of fallen mankind. This exposing of his sin is the divine leverage to bring him to Christ (Galatians 3:24). The system of law and law keeping has been permanently superseded by an infinitely superior NEW covenant ratified in the very life blood of the Son of God (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 8-10).

The ultimate divine design of the law was “to bring us unto Christ.”

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:24-25

All who in Christ are no long under the law – they are under saving grace (Romans 6:14). To those saved by grace by faith in Christ, God’s Word says “the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient.” (1 Timothy 1:9)

Speaking specifically of those who misapply the law under the New Covenant, Paul writes:

“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, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:9-11 

Comparing the Old and New Covenants, one source relates the following:

“The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible, focusing on the history of Israel, God’s covenant with the Jewish people, and the giving of the Law through Moses, while the New Testament focuses on the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus Christ, presenting him as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the foundation for a new covenant with God; essentially, the Old Testament sets the stage for the New Testament narrative of salvation through Jesus.”

Another source renders the following:

“Difference Between the Old Testament and New Testament: Whereas, the New Testament comes after and documents how the world is saved through what Jesus did for his people. The Old Testament focuses primarily on the history of Israel and God’s law, whereas Jesus is the main focus of the New Testament.”

“OT is the story of man’s fall. God attempts to redeem them through a chosen people, and those people failing every step of the way. But through all this history God promises them redemption and salvation through a messiah. The New Testament is the story of that Messiah, His mission, and the history of His early Church to see that mission fulfilled. And like the OT looked forward to Messiah’s appearance, the New Testament looks forward to Messiah’s return and the conclusion of the human drama.” P.

“OT is the promise. NT is the fulfillment of that promise.”  A.

In short, the Old Testament records the fall of mankind while promising prophetically of the coming Messiah to fulfill those glorious promises in order to save and in culmination make ready a people for the Messiah King’s bride and be also with the Father in His New Jerusalem palatial abode (Revelation 21).

QUESTION ASKED FROM A LAW-KEEPER WHO WAS ACTUALLY GENUINELY SEEKING THE TRUTH:

“So you are agreeing then that sin is breaking God’s law? If you are agreeing why are you saying then the keeping of God’s law is no longer needed to be kept? If you are admitting sin is breaking Gods law how can you say to repent but don’t keep his law?” Patrick

REPLY:

“Knowing 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

Great question Patrick …. The law can save no one (Galatians 2:16, etc.). Keeping the law can save no one because we’ve all broken it,  and if just one time, we are guilty of breaking the whole law and worthy of eternal death.

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10

So, think about going before a judge, a court, having only committed one crime your whole life…. let’s say you murdered someone. Are you going to say “But judge, I did the math and I’ve lived 10,923 days of my life and only 1 of those days did I mess up, commit a crime.”   …………… ????     What’s the judge going to say? “Guilty. To jail you go for life.” Right?

God is holy and no sin shall enter His presence (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).

The law came by Moses and saving grace came by One who is infinitely greater than Moses – Christ. John 1:17   Christ created Moses (Colossians 1:16).

The law is the divine holy standard that exposes us to just how wicked we are (Romans 7:12). That is its divine purpose – in order to bring us to Christ, Messiah.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster (tutor) to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24

400 years before the law was even given by Moses, Abraham was justified by faith. Read Galatians closely. Perhaps consider praying before you begin.

The law, the law keeping system, is infinitely inferior to the infinitely superior saved by grace through faith Gospel of Christ. Book of Hebrews compares the two systems.

The law was a mere “shadow” (faint representation) of much greater things were to come – and He has come, 2,000 years ago, the promised Messiah. He came and lived sinlessly and then died on that cross for us, was buried, and raised again from the dead for our justification (Romans 4:25). When Jesus declared “It is finished” that meant “paid in full.” (John 19:30) Christ was the only One to ever keep the law perfectly and He then He nailed it to the cross when He died for us. He “took it out of the way” – out of our way!

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head (Christ, Messiah), from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:14-19

God’s goal for sending His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world was never to keep making His own people to keep the law. No, Jesus, gave us a “new commandment.”

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35

There is a new covenant which is a “better covenant” and it operates on different, “better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

The system of law was clumsy and impossible to put it lightly. God had better, a “better covenant.” The law keeping system was never designed to be permanent.

“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a BETTER COVENANT, which was established upon BETTER PROMISES (blessings).” Hebrews 8:6

Read Hebrews 8-10 with these things fresh in your mind.

The law system is over, for good and has been for 2,000 years.

“For Christ is THE END of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4

There’s a new law:

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:2-4

Some find it difficult to let God save them all by Himself. They revert back to attempting to help Him save them, perhaps so they can feel like they are meriting their own salvation.

“Now to him that worketh (tries to earn, merit it) is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5

“For the law of the Spirit of life – The Gospel of the grace of Christ, which is not only a law or rule of life, but affords that sovereign energy by which guilt is removed from the conscience, the power of sin broken, and its polluting influence removed from the heart. The law was a spirit of death, by which those who were under it were bound down, because of their sin, to condemnation and death. The Gospel proclaims Jesus the Savior; and what the law bound unto death, It looses unto life eternal. And thus the apostle says, whether of himself or the man whom he is still personating, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Adam Clarke

“8:2 The Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. These are two opposite laws or principles. The characteristic principle of the Holy Spirit is to empower believers for holy living. The characteristic principle of indwelling sin is to drag a person down to death. It is like the law of gravity. When you throw a ball into the air, it comes back down because it is heavier than the air it displaces. A living bird is also heavier than the air it displaces, but when you toss it up in the air, it flies away. The law of life in the bird overcomes the law of gravity. So the Holy Spirit supplies the risen life of the Lord Jesus, making the believer free from the law of sin and death.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“8:3 The law could never get people to fulfill its sacred requirements, but grace has succeeded where law failed. Let us see how! The law could not produce holy living because it was weak through the flesh. The trouble was not with the law but with fallen human nature. The law spoke to men who were already sinners and who were without strength to obey. But God intervened by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. Take careful notice that the Lord Jesus did not come in sinful flesh itself but in “the likeness of” sinful flesh. He did no sin (1Pe_2:22), He knew no sin (2Co_5:21), and there was no sin in Him (1Jn_3:5). But by coming into the world in human form, He resembled sinful humanity. As a sacrifice for sin, Christ condemned sin in the flesh. He died not only for the sins which we commit (1Pe_3:18) but also for our sin nature. In other words, He died for what we are just as much as for what we have done. In so doing, He condemned sin in the flesh. Our sin nature is never said to be forgiven; it is condemned. It is the sins that we have committed that are forgiven. 8:4 Now the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. As we turn over the control of our lives to the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to love God and to love our neighbor, and that, after all, is what the law requires.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You now, confessing my sin of rebellion, spiritual adultery, idolatry, and unbelief. Please wash me afresh in the precious blood of my Savior and LORD Jesus Christ. Fill and use me for Your eternal glory LORD, from this moment forward. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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