Law and Grace
A man, speeding on the freeway, desperately trying to get his wife, who is in labour to the hospital on time, is pulled over by a highway patrol officer. The flashing blue and red lights in his rear-view mirror tell the man that, despite his dire situation, he will need to stop.
As luck would have it, the police officer is a gracious and merciful man. After hearing of the driver’s tenuous situation and seeing his distressed wife next to him, the police officer waves the man on his way without giving him a ticket for speeding.
Before the man throws his car into gear, the police officer gives him a parting word of warning; he is free to go without a penalty. But, he needs to remember to obey the road rules not only for the safety of everyone around him but also for his own safety and the safety of his wife and unborn child.
Relieved and thankful the man is off; he is mindful to stay within the speed limit. You see, the police officer’s offer of grace did not in any way negate the gravity of the law. In fact, the police officer’s grace most likely reinforced the necessity of the law more deeply in the man’s mind.
Law and grace are inextricably linked in the Bible. One complements and reinforces the other. Let’s take a quick look at what the Bible has to say about this fascinating topic.
Fact number 1. The Bible defines sin as lawlessness.
The Bible says: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” – 1 John 3:4.
Fact number 2. The law of God gives us a knowledge of sin.
The Bible says: “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20.
Fact number 3. God’s law is the eternal, unchangeable standard of His government.
The Bible says: “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.” Psalm 89:34.
Fact number 4. The Bible compares the law to a mirror.
The Bible says: “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:23-25.
Fact number 5. While the law shows us our sin, God’s grace leads us to salvation.
The Bible says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8.
Fact number 6. When we accept Jesus, God writes His law in our hearts.
The Bible says: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel in those days says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” – Hebrews 8:10
Fact number 7. We cannot profess to accept Jesus and refuse to embrace His law.
The Bible says: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:3,4.
Fact number 8. If we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments.
The Bible says: “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.
Fact number 9. Jesus came to establish the law, not to destroy it.
The Bible says: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil.” Matthew 5:17.
And finally, fact number 10. God’s end-time people will obey His commandments.
The Bible says: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.
So, here they are – 10 important facts about God’s law and His grace
1. How does the Bible define sin?
2. The law of God gives us a knowledge of sin.
3. God’s law is the eternal, unchangeable standard of His government.
4. The Bible compares the law to a mirror.
5. While the law shows us our sin, God’s grace leads us to salvation.
6. When we accept Jesus, God writes His law in our hearts.
7. We cannot profess to accept Jesus and refuse to embrace His law.
8. If we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments.
9. Jesus came to establish the law, not to destroy it.
10. God’s end-time people will obey His commandments.
The law of God is a transcript of His character. The Bible tells us that through Jesus, we can have the power to reflect God’s law in our hearts and obey it in our lives. Would you like to accept the grace of God, which empowers you to keep His law today?
