LAW & GRACE

We looked at this topic in another article called The Two Covenants, and saw that the Bible clearly describes two separate ways to relate to God. One is called the Old Covenant of The Law, and the other is called the New Covenant of Grace. We looked at various scriptures that man was expected to do to carry out his end of the covenant, but we saw that since the fall of Adam, man has no ability to keep God's Law. For this reason Jesus came to earth to redeem man back to a relationship to His Creator through His death and resurrection. The law was meant to show man how far he had fallen from God's expectations of him, and apart from God's initiative there could never be a reconciliation between the two. This is why the death and resurrection of Jesus is such "Good news", because it is our only hope of a restored relationship with out Creator! Therefore the New Covenant of Grace provides man with a better basis for relating with God than the Old Covenant of Law did. The Law demanded human efforts or obedience as a precondition to life and blessings from God. The New Covenant of Grace, having taken into consideration man's inability and unfaithfulness in obeying the law, provides forgiveness of sins to man, and imputes God's righteousness to man that empowers him to walk according to God's will.

According to scripture, the life and righteousness of Christ is produced in a believer solely by the Grace of God, and grace alone! We can do nothing to earn salvation, it is clearly a gift from God, but He expects good works from us after we become new creatures in Christ. (Eph 2:1-10). Some people misunderstand this, and feel that their good works before they have a personal experience with Christ, will earn them a relationship with God. This is the general teaching of all religions, that we can work our way up to God by our good works. Sad to say some good church people think this same way. Jesus had to explain to Nicodemus, a very religious man, that he must be "born again" (John 3:3,5). And we need to stress this point with religious church goers today. Therefore believers in Christ must be careful to discern and avoid the subtle influence of religious legalism and carnal efforts which seek to rob us of the fullness of the work of Grace! If we believe that this is what God's Word teaches us, then we should avoid any form of depending on self-help and human efforts, and have our complete and full confidence in God's "Amazing Grace". We must respond to this Grace in humility and faith!

Sincerely submitted

Gramp