Article: The Law or Grace [Which will it be?]

This is an important question. I believe that the scriptures will clearly answer this question! If we put our trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation, the works of the law are no more necessary. We cannot trust in both for our salvation. If we put our trust in the law we make void grace. If we believe by faith we are no more followers of the law. Romans 11:6 says, "And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be by works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." This scripture is clear that if we are justified by faith, then salvation is no more by works, but if we seek to be justified by works also we have rejected faith, we cannot have both.

A true Christian has come under a new law. This law is the law of Christ, not the old Mosaic laws. They were only designed to show man that he could never, without grace, justify himself. This was evident by Israel's continual backsliding. They could never maintain God's holy standards for any extended period of time. The apostle Paul talked of a new law. Romans 8:2 says, "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Also Paul says in Galatians 6:2, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Also in I Corinthians 9:21, Paul talks of his ministry to the gentiles saying, "To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without the law." And in Romans 7:22, "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man."

PURPOSE OF THE LAW
The law had a purpose. The law was also holy and good, but the law was only temporary and its purpose was to show man his wicked sinful nature and his desperate need of grace, but if we reject God's grace we remain under the condemnation of the law. Romans 3:20-21 says, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifest, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." If we as Christians are trying to be justified by the law, we have fallen from grace. Romans 3:28 says, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." If we are justified by faith alone, it is vanity to try to please God by the Mosaic law also. The law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ as it clearly states in Galatians 3:24-26, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
Paul also rebukes the Galatians because they were trying to keep the law and faith which they could not do because they were contrary one to the other, he says in Galatians 3:2-3, "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Also Paul says in the same chapter of Galatians in verses 11-13, "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of thelaw, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" Paul speaks to the Galatians that the law is not of faith. If we who claim to be in Christ seek to be justified by the law also, we show our lack of true faith.

The book of Galatians is a beautiful epistle showing the difference between the law and grace, if we entertain any doubts about the works of the law for justification we need only study this one epistle and we will see that attempting to keep the law along beside grace is utter vanity and is unprofitable. Galatians 2:21 says, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for it righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." One question, why did Christ come? Colossians 2:14 gives a beautiful description of this, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."
If we believe that we need the law also for justification then we say that Christ's atonement was not enough to pay our debt for sin, but that we need to add to his finished work. This becomes false teaching of the highest sort. Speaking of Christ in Hebrews 10:9-10 it reads, "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Here is clearly explains that he taketh away the first, that is, the Mosaic law that he may establish the second, the new covenant of grace and of all that is taught in the New Testament. To try to return to the old law is a waste of time. It can never please God. Let us use a simple analogy. If a man was on death row condemned to death by the law without an hope and in utter despair of hope, minutes away from certain death, but at the last moment was miraculously pardoned and completely forgiven by the civil authorities. But then once freed he attempted to return because he felt that the debt had not been paid fully but must do his time on the electric chair and go back to death row. This is what happen when we attempt to return to the law.

TRUE FAITH RESULTS IN WORKS
True grace results in good works, that is to say, not the works of the law, but the works of the new law. James 2:17 says, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." The works of the Mosaic law are far different from the works of the new law. Galatians 5:22-24 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Also in Acts 2:42 when speaking of the disciples it says, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

These are the fruits of a true Christian. If we do not have these fruits in our life we do not have the evidence of salvation for these are the works of the new law. When we come to Jesus Christ with a truly repentant heart and a sincere desire to turn from our own works and our wickedness, only then are we ready for a new life in Christ. As it says in II Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." We may not be perfected in all these areas but our desire is to be and we should be striving for it. Also, a new Christian must show love for God by loving His Holy Word as given to us in the Bible (KJV). This is our love letter from God. If we do not love Him, of course, we will not read His letter as it says in John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." These are not the commandments of the old Levitical law but the commandments of the New Testament law, which is the law of grace.

The Mosaic Law is for the Old Testament dispensation. The New Testament if the law of Christ Jesus for this present dispensation. It is very important not to confuse the two.

The Pharisees were adamant in regards to the Mosaic Law eventhough they made up their own laws and traditions in addition to God's. The Pharisees were zealous to keep the law but rejected their own Messiah. We can also do the same if we reject God's law of grace and try to add to it for justification. Will you be a Pharisee or a blood bought child of God? The law ministered condemnation, but the grace of God through Jesus Christ brings life. As it says in II Corinthians 3:9, "For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory." Also in verses 13 and 14, "And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ."

Let us walk in the liberty that we have in the Jewish Messiah, Christ Jesus, and not be brought into bondages by the Mosaic Law.