UNDER THE LAW? OR UNDER GRACE?

Under the Law? Or Under Grace?

riot. We live in an age of obstinate rebellion and defiance.

Sin has prevailed in this world since the fall of Lucifer. Satan has broken the Heavenly law and now wants all men to defy God as well. But will he succeed?

Satan has employed a multitude of tactics to encourage God's people to break the divine law. The most effective method has been through infiltrating our beliefs to convince us that we no longer need to keep God's law.

Many Christians profess high regards for Jesus and His word; yet, little do they know that some of their beliefs are blindly misleading them to support Satan's rebellion.

The concept of "law and grace" is often misunderstood and, consequently, has caused many to stumble. An erroneous understanding of how divine grace relates to the law has led millions of professed Christians to believe that they no longer need to keep the Commandments.

To free ourselves of this error, we must understand what it means to be "under grace" according to Scripture. Does grace mean we no longer need to keep the Ten Commandments?

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid... (See Romans 6:1-2.)

Scripture is clear: We should not continue to sin because of grace.

But what is sin?

". . . sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4)

sin = the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4)

Grace, then, does not free us to break the Commandments, for sin by definition is the transgression of God's law. To suggest that grace frees us from having to observe the 10 Commandments would be to suggest that grace is a license to sin! God forbid.

The Bible says more about breaking the law [sin]:

"The wages of sin is death . . ." (Romans 6:23)

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)

Keeping the law is clearly important. But on the other hand, we cannot be saved just by keeping the law:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight . . ." (Romans 3:20)

Scripture is clear that no one will be saved by the deeds of the law. How then are we to be saved? How does the law relate to grace? Revelation 14:12 tells us that the saints will be those who keep the commandments AND have the faith of Jesus. It is only by God's grace that they are able to keep the law.

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (See Revelation 14:12.)

under grace. A commonly misunderstood verse used to explain grace:

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (See Romans 6:14.)

What is this verse saying? Before drawing any conclusions, let us continue to the next verse:

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (See Romans 6:15.)

As we saw earlier, sin is breaking God's law (1 John 3:4). This verse, then, is saying "Should we break God's law because we are under grace?" The answer: "God forbid."

The law acts as a mirror to show us where we have sinned.

I had not known sin, but by the law. (See Romans 7:7.)

The law shows us where we have sinned so that we may be led to Jesus. We do not keep the Commandments in order to be saved. We keep the Commandments because we are saved. Keeping the Commandments is the fruit of our salvation, not the root. We are saved by divine grace.

Jesus kept the Commandments, and when we know Him, we will become more like Him.

"He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4)

The saints are those "that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12)

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26)

man being pulled over by the police for breaking the law A car was speeding and was pulled over for breaking the law. The driver who was speeding should have been punished accordingly. But upon asking for mercy, the cop let the driver off with only a warning. The driver was now under grace. Will the driver now take off breaking the law because he is under grace? Or will he now drive more responsibly in gratitude to the grace bestowed upon him?

Bible

It all started with one sin. Because the law had been broken, Jesus chose to pay the penalty of death to redeem us. So after His death, the law is no longer valid? Jesus, Himself, kept the Commandments.

"If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." (John 15:10)

How is our love for Jesus revealed?

"If ye love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15)

How is our relationship with Jesus made evident?

"He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4)

Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [lawlessness]. (See Matthew 7:22-23.)

If we truly love God, we will continually seek His enabling grace to keep all of His Commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. (See 1 John 5:3.)

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