3. THE LAW VS. GRACE
Now we are going to have a look at the difference between the Law and Grace. This is fundamental to understanding Eternal Security. If we don’t build on a sound foundation, we will fall from grace.
We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Romans 9:29-33 NASB: Attained righteousness by faith
[29] And just as Isaiah foretold: “If the Lord of armies had not left us descendants, We would have become like Sodom, and would have been like Gomorrah.” [30] What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, but the righteousness that is by faith; [31] however, Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. [32] Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though they could by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, [33] just as it is written: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 2 Timothy 1:9 NASB who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
The doctrine that we are saved by grace and not by keeping the law is based on several key passages and theological principles. This doctrine is central to Biblical theology and is often summarised as “justification by grace through faith.” Even Israel, who were under the law, failed to keep the law. Here’s why Bible believing Christians hold this belief:
- Human Inability to Keep the Law Perfectly: The Bible teaches that all human beings have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). No one can perfectly keep the moral and ceremonial laws outlined in the Old Testament or fulfil God’s standards of righteousness (Romans 3:10). The law reveals our sinfulness but cannot provide the means for salvation.
- The Primacy of Grace: God’s grace is unmerited favour and kindness extended to humanity. Ephesians 2:8-9-10 (NASB) emphasises the importance of grace in salvation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This passage highlights that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith, and not something earned through works of the law.
- The Role of Faith: The Bible teaches that faith is the means by which individuals accept and receive God’s gracious offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. Faith is not a human work or accomplishment; it is a response to God’s grace. Romans 4:5 (NASB) states, “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.”
- Redemption Through Christ: The belief in salvation by grace emphasises the central role of Jesus Christ as the Saviour. He fulfilled the requirements of the law and offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice for sin. Galatians 2:21 (NASB) underscores this: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” In other words, if righteousness and salvation could be attained by keeping the law, there would have been no need for Christ’s sacrificial death.
- Salvation Available to All: The doctrine of salvation by grace through faith highlights that God’s offer of salvation is available to all, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or adherence to the law. It is an inclusive message of hope for all who place their faith in Jesus.
Scripture emphasises that salvation is a gift freely given by God through His grace, and it is received by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. While good works are important in the Christian life, they are viewed as a response to God’s grace and not the means of earning or maintaining salvation. This doctrine affirms the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross for our redemption.
The Law is Powerless to Save Us!
DO YOU BELIEVE GOD IS ABLE TO SAVE FOREVER THOSE WHO COME TO GOD THROUGH CHRIST?
The law can’t make us righteous because it’s powerless and weak. However, God has made us righteous through the New Covenant of Grace. It was the law that killed us. But once we have been saved from the penalty of Adams sin, what the law could not do, Christ has done by releasing us from the law sin and death. If we believe we are saved or stay saved by keeping the law, then we nullify grace. It is not our righteousness that saves us. Just like it was not our sin that made us sinners. We have received the free gift of His righteousness to be saved forever.
Romans 4:13 NASB: through the righteousness of faith
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Romans 7:5-9 NASB: now we have been released from the Law
[5] For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death. [6] But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. [7] What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” [8] But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. [9] I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died;
Hebrews 7:23-27 NASB: He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him
[23] The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; [24] Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. [25] Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. [26] For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; [27] who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself.
Romans 8:3 NASB: what the Law could not do, God did
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
Romans 10:4 NASB: Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness
For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Galatians 2:21 NASB: if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Galatians 3:21 NASB: The Law could not bring Righteousness:
Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Far from it! For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
Philippians 3:8-12 NASB: righteousness comes from God on the basis of faith
[8] More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, [9] and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, [10] that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; [11] if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. [12] Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
Grace: God’s Unmerited Favour
Embracing Grace: His Unmerited Favour Unearned by Good Works
Introduction
In the rich tapestry of Christian theology, few concepts shine as brightly and resonate as deeply as the notion of grace—the unmerited favour bestowed upon believers by a benevolent and merciful God. At the heart of this divine attribute lies a profound truth: grace is not earned through our good works but freely given as a gift, a testament to the boundless love of our Creator.
Understanding Grace
Grace, in its essence, is God’s unearned and unmerited favour extended to humanity. It is a concept woven throughout the biblical narrative, exemplifying the character of God as compassionate, forgiving, and abundantly generous. The Apostle Paul beautifully encapsulates the nature of grace in Ephesians 2:8-9, proclaiming, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Unearned by Good Works
One of the foundational tenets of grace is its stark contrast to the concept of earning through good works. The Bible unequivocally asserts that salvation is a gift freely given, not a wage earned through our righteous deeds. Romans 11:6 emphasises this truth, stating, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”
The Unconditional Nature of Grace
God’s grace is not contingent upon our merit or worthiness. It flows from His character, an outpouring of His love and mercy despite our imperfections. Titus 3:5-7 eloquently captures the unconditional nature of grace: “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Application to the Believer
Grace is not merely a theological concept but a transformative force that shapes the believer’s journey. It is the catalyst for salvation, the source of strength in times of weakness, and the wellspring of gratitude that fuels a life devoted to God. As believers, we are called to walk in the reality of grace, acknowledging our dependence on God’s unmerited favour and extending that same grace to others.
Conclusion
In a world often characterised by earning and deserving, grace stands as a beacon of divine love, illuminating the path to salvation. As believers, we are invited to embrace this unmerited favour, recognising that it is not through our works but through God’s boundless love that we find redemption and restoration. May the awareness of His grace fuel our faith, inspire humility, and lead us to share this incredible gift with a world in need of God’s unearned favour.
