MEMORY VERSE: “ For the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17.
BIBLE PASSAGE: Romans 8:2-4.
INTRODUCTION
The law, according to Scripture, refers to the detailed standard God gave to Moses, beginning in Exodus 20:1-17 with the Ten Commandments. Basically, the Law was given to separate God’s people – the Israelite from the evil nations around them and to define sin Ezra 10:11; Romans 5:13; 7:7.
OUTLINE
- THE NATURE OF THE LAW
- THE PLACE OF GRACE
1. THE NATURE OF THE LAW
God gave ‘laws and commandments’ written in tablets of stone to the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness to the Promised Land Exodus 24:12. The law and commandments were expounded (supposedly by Moses) to include God’s statutes, judgements, testimonies, etc and written in a book called the “laws of Moses” to guide and hold the Israelites accountable whenever they disobey God’s commandments 1 Kings 2:3; Matthew 19:7-8. Jesus summarised all the laws as “loving God” and “loving your neighbour” Matthew 22:36-40.
God’s commandments are not grievous or burdensome 1 John 5:3 but the nature of sin in mankind made it difficult for them to simply comply. Also, the Law was not evil: it defines the condition of a person’s heart Romans 7:7. The Law exposes the inability of man to obey God’s commandments Romans 7:14-16. While the law itself was good, holy and just Romans 7:12, it was weak in that it lacked the power to change a sinful heart Romans 8:3; Acts 13:39. Setting
aside the commandments of God, some religious leaders also hijacked the law and added their own rules and traditions Mark 7:7-9.
2. THE PLACE OF GRACE
God is full of grace Joel 2:13, and people have always found grace and salvation by faith in God who remains unchanged between the Old and New Testaments Malachi 3:6a. The same God who gave the law through Moses also gave grace through Jesus John 1:17.Jesus was born ”under the law” Galatians 4:4-5 and became the final sacrifice to bring the Law to fulfilment and establish the New Covenant Matthew 5:17; Luke 22:20.
If properly understood, there is no conflict between grace and the Law: Christ fulfilled the Law on our behalf and offered grace through the power of the Holy Spirit,who motivates a regenerated heart to live in obedience to God Romans 8:1-4. Hence, in place of the Old Testament’s law and its penalty, Christians are now under the law of grace through Christ Romans 6:14; Galatians 3:10-14, 22-28. In this dispensation of grace, God’s commandments remain sacred and to be obedient is to love God 1 John 5:3. However, any attempt to obey the commandments through the Old Testament Law will take away the liberty of the believer Romans 8:1-3. This is because “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty
of all” James 2:9-12. By grace, we can do what is pleasing and acceptable to God Ephesians 2:7-10. This is why it is unnatural for anyone that is genuinely born-again to habitually and deliberately practice sin 1 John 3:8-9 AMP.
CONCLUSION
In Christ, we have the grace to resist sin and live in holiness.
FURTHER READING
Sun: Romans 6:14.
Mon: Ephesians 2:8-9.
Tues: Galatians 3:24.
Wed: John 1:16-17.
Thurs: Romans 3:20.
Fri: James 2:9-12.
Sat: 1 John 5:3