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LAW AND GRACE
Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
What is "the law"?
The whole OT (I Cor 14:21,22-Isa 28:11,12)
The whole Pentateuch (Gal 4:21,22-Gen 16:15,21:2)
The whole system of law given to Moses (Gal 3:10-Deut 27:26)
The Ceremonial Law: Festivals (Lev 23); Ceremonial Cleansings
(Lev 7:19-24); the Tabernacle (Exod 25:8,9)
SYMBOLIZED GOD'S LOVE AND GRACE
EXPRESSED THROUGH CHRIST'S BLOOD
The Moral Law (Exod 20:1-17): (The Ten Commandments)
LOVE FULFILLS THEM (Rom 13:10)
REPEATED IN NT (Eph 6:1,2)
The Civil Law (Deut 19:15-21): Included severe penalties to maintain
order in the nation of Israel
Paul appears to be talking in Romans 6:14 about the moral law that demanded perfect obedience or there would be God's judgment.
The law (1) exposes our sinfulness (Rom 7:7); (2) arouses our sinfulness
(Rom 5:20, 7:5,13); (3) produces death and judgment (Rom 3:19,20,
5:20,21, 7:5; Gal 3:10); and (4) provides a temporary control and
restraint of sin (I Tim 1:8-10; Gal. 3:23-25)
What is "being under law"?
The law requires perfection or we will be condemned. Being "under law" is
living in a constant state of condemnation! (Rom 7:24)
What is "grace"?
"Grace" is God freely giving us the very opposite of what we deserve. We
deserve judgment, death, and hell; and God gives us forgiveness, life, and
heaven. God's Riches At Christ's Expense! It is truly AMAZING GRACE!
God's grace is free to us, but not free to Him (Jn 3:16; I Pet 1:18,19).
Our sins are completely paid for and forgotten by God (Ps 103:10,12; Isa 38:17; 43:25; Micah 7:19; Rom 4:7,8; Col 1:21,22).
What is "living under grace"?
We died to the law through Jesus' death (Rom 7:1-6). Now, instead of God justly condemning us for breaking his law by not being perfect; God patiently guides us toward perfection (Rom 8:28-39; Phil 1:6)
LIVING UNDER GRACE COMPARED TO LIVING UNDER THE LAW:
1. How do we gain God's acceptance?
Under law: Perfect obedience (Ex 19:5,6; Gal 2:16; James 2:10)
Under grace: Jesus earned our acceptance (Rom 5:1,2)
2. Where is the law written?
Under law: On stone (II Cor 3:3)
Under grace: On our hearts (II Cor 3:3; Col 3:10)
3. When are we blessed?
Under law: Only when we deserve to be blessed (Deut 28:1,2)
Under grace: When we receive by faith the blessings available in Jesus Christ (Eph 1:3; 2:4-10)
4. What is our incentive for obeying God?
Under law: Fear of being cursed if we do not obey God (Deut 27:26,
28:15-68)
Under grace: Gratitude to the One who has taken away our curse (I Jn 4:10,11,
18,19)
5. What do we depend on?
Under law: Our human flesh that cannot obey God (Rom 7:6, 8:3,7,8)
Under grace: God's Spirit that can enable us to obey God (Rom 8:9-11; II Cor 3:5,6; Gal 5:18)
6. Who gets the glory?
Under law: We do it and take the credit for it (Lk 18:9-12)
Under grace: God does it and gets all the glory (Eph 2:8-10)
RESOURCES: TRANSFORMING GRACE by Jerry Bridges; THE GRACE AWAKENING by Charles Swindoll; RICHES IN CHRIST by Ray Stedman
ASSIGNMENT:
1. Does living under grace require that we obey God?
2. What do you think of the following statement about a faithful servant of God who died of cancer: "She did not deserve it."?
3. Read Matthew 20:1-16 - What does it teach us about living by grace?