Law and Grace

LAW AND GRACE

Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The religious hireling preaches law because he does not know grace. His messages are littered with a myriad of duties and expectations that are incumbent upon his hearers IF they claim to be saved. These duties are expected to increase as the convert becomes more progressively sanctified throughout their life. While not explicitly stated, it is implied that these "good" works are a means to maintain salvation.

The strawman that is often presented is that preaching grace opens the door for people to live any way they want to. A dear friend of mine responded to this accusation with the question, "What is it that you want to do, that you're unable to do?" The truth is, everyone does exactly what they want to do and lives exactly as they want to. The preacher may pound you with the law, but that is a yoke that no one is able to bear, for the law only presents condemnation and not life.

Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 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.

While the religious soup of the day is do, do, do, the glorious good news of the gospel is DONE! Salvation is accomplished, God's law and justice are eternally satisfied, the elect are fully and forever sanctified (set apart) in Christ. While the religious moralist forever seeks to establish his own righteousness, the child of God is presently as righteous as they will ever be, for by the gracious decree of Almighty God, Christ is their righteousness.

Jeremiah 33:16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

The child of God longs to hear, not of duties, but the glorious finished work of Christ ALONE, who eternally satisfied the handwriting of ordinances that was against them through his obedience unto death. (Colossians 2:14) The child of God craves not a message of what I must do to be approved of God, but a message of the righteousness of God established in the place of and the name of each soul Christ represented through his obedience unto death. This is the only true place of rest and comfort. This is the message focused not on the works of the flesh, but eternal life in the glorious, finished work of Christ. Anything else is just dry husks and only fit for the fire.

Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

- by Kenny Dyess, via his Facebook page

 

And we know that none of us vile, corrupt, sinful mere human beings can do that. Only CHRIST did this perfectly.

And this belief is a gift of God which He gives to His elect after He regenerates them:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. - Ephesians 2:8

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. - Philippians 1:29