Are We Under Grace or Law? (Part 2)

Welcome to Are We Under Grace or Law?, Part 2! If you recall, last week in Part 1 we discussed "...the fact that we are under grace does not mean that we are not subject to law, and that it is not essential for us to keep divine law." Grace does not mean we are not subject to law, rather, it means that we have a way of forgiveness when we violate that law, if we meet the divine conditions. This week we will wrap up our discussion on this subject by beginning with Paul's teaching in Romans.

It is obvious from the Scriptures previously cited that Paul, in Romans 6:14-15, does not mean that we are not subject to law nor obligated to strictly observe it. His teaching is that we are not under a system of mere law without grace as a means of justification.

Allow me to elaborate a little on this. Depending on mere law as a means of justification would mean that we would have to keep that law perfectly. Such dependence on "perfect law-keeping" would nullify grace for our justification and would be earned by our sinlessness. This would mean that the one who kept the law perfectly would need no grace! It would also mean that the one who depended on "perfect law-keeping" for justification would be a legalist.

This would be a good time to look at an example of Paul's teaching in Romans 3-4. We can read that none are "justified" by the Law of Moses (Romans 3:19). In order to have been justified by that law, people would have had to keep it perfectly, never violating it because once a person violated it, he became guilty and was condemned by it (Galatians 3:10-12). Paul also tells us that those under the law did not keep it perfectly---all violated it (Romans 3:23).

Since justification is not earned by "perfect law-keeping," there is no reason to boast (Romans 3:27). Our justification is on the basis of faith rather than the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28). The "faith" in justification by faith, is an obedient faith (James 2:17-26). The works of obedience, works of righteousness, which eminate from faith do not earn justification, rather, justification is given because of the faith which produces the works of obedience. Thus, faith is "accounted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5). In other words, one's faith is credited to him.

As a result he is righteous in God's sight. This only occurs when one's faith is made perfect by works (James 2:26). Because of his obedient faith he is graciously forgiven and cleansed of his sins and made righteous before God. And as long as he maintains an obedient faith, he will continue to stand righteous before Him.

In his teaching in Romans, Paul is contrasting justification by grace on the grounds of an obedient faith against justification; by keeping law perfectly in which the reward is earned and there is no grace involved. There are a couple of points that I would like to repeat here to you.

1. Although we are under law, we are not under law as a means of justification.

2. We do not depend on "perfect law-keeping" for justification. Without God's gracious forgiveness when we violate the law of Christ, we would all stand guilty and have no hope.

In closing, we cannot receive that gracious forgiveness if we persist in violation of God's law, for forgiveness is conditioned on repentence. Since we are under divine law, we must submit to the will of the Lord. At the same time, we should be thankful that we do not have to depend on keeping that law perfectly in order to stand justified in the sight of God. My dear friends, how thankful we should be that God has provided a means of forgiveness when we violate His law, and for God's grace!

Let's close this message in prayer:

O everlasting God, let the light of Thine eternity now fall upon my passing days.
O holy God, let the light of thy perfect righteousness fall upon my sinful ways.
O most merciful God, let the light of Thy love pierce to the most secret corners of my heart and overcome the darkness of sin within me. Amen

May God bless you,

Beverly