Gal 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Please understand as you read today's post... in just a couple short minutes I can only scratch the surface of this topic on law and grace and it is not intended to be an all inclusive answer to what the Bible teaches on the subject.
We hear a lot of talk in Christian circles regarding the topic of law and grace. Often times I find it confusing. Today I want to look closely at this topic and try to understand for myself what the differences are and how law and grace might correlate to one another.
Paul instructs us in the letter to the Galatians that we are saved only by faith in Jesus and not by any works of the law. Our salvation is a gift of His grace and is not accomplished by anything we can do. Since we can not earn favor with God, then no man can boast over his own ability to keep the law. Since we are unable keep the law, we need someone who did to be reconciled to God. The law is a pointer to our need for a Savior. The law came for us to see our need for Jesus.
Since we are not justified by the law, do we still need to obey the commands of God? I think many Bible believing Christians mistakenly interpret grace as not needing to obey the commands of God. I have heard it said many times, "I live under grace, not under law!" However, the Bible instructs us otherwise. We may not be saved by the law, but we are commanded to live a certain way. Keeping the commands of God is pleasing to Him.
In John 15:10, Jesus tells us that if we keep His commandments then we will abide in His love. Paul tells us in Romans that we who are in Christ are dead to sin. We no longer want to live sinfully in order to receive more grace.
Rom 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
So here is my perspective on law and grace... It is obvious from scripture that we are not saved by works of the law. The law points to our inability to work our way into the favor of God. We are saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. And, we are to keep from breaking the law in the way we live our life once we have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Not to gain favor with God, not to remain saved, but because we have a new heart and we desire the things of God and not the flesh.
When we break the law of God, a mature Christian will run to God for forgiveness, not hide from Him. God knows our heart and will seek us out and find us no matter how hard we try to hide.
Eph 2:8-9 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.
So here is my take in a nutshell... We are saved by grace alone and we are to keep from sin as an expression of our faith in Him.
Daily In Christ - Freedom In Christ
We understand that the grace of God covers us. We are free from the bondage and yoke of slavery because of it. Today I encourage you to embrace your freedom in the Grace of God, find all your affection in Jesus, and turn from your sin toward pleasure in Him.
Blessings to you as you find your freedom in Him.
Keith
No comments:
Post a Comment