Law and Grace | Different between law and grace | What does the bible says about Law and grace

Topic:
LAW AND GRACE
Bible Text: Mathew 5:16

Prayer

Our heavenly Father, we thank you for this wonderful moment, as we gather to

share your word may your Holy Spirit guide us so that nothing goes amiss. We

ask for the spirit of unity and understanding of the word, let us all be partakers in

this holy feast to the glory of your name. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen

Study

I welcome those just joining us in the name of the Lord, I hope you all had a

lovely day! Praise God. We would be treating a topic that has been a controversial

issue in the faith for some years now, we will be looking at it from biblical

perspectives, therefore comparing scriptures with scriptures tonight will not be

said to be overemphasized. As years goes by, there has been different kinds of

changes in the faith, different kinds of doctrines are coming up and majority in

the world are finding it hard to believe or to know the actual doctrine they are to

believe/follow. However, The Lord has given us His word, it now depends on how

we are able to search it out. For it is written in Proverbs 25:2 that It is the glory of

God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Who are

the kings? It's certainly we christians, please take note, not christians by mouth

but those whom God knows. If you doubt your kingship check Revelation 1:6 And

hath made us KINGS and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and

dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Therefore we would be treating a topic titled: Law and Grace a lot of people have

said different kinds of things about these two words but I pray that the Holy

Spirit will give us deep understanding in Jesus name. Amen! It is not a new thing

to hear believers say that we are no longer under the law but under Grace. It is

true that we are now under Grace, that is why we want to look deeply into The

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word of God to know what the law actually is and what Grace actually is then we

would look at what The Lord Jesus Christ said and how it applies to us. Praise God!

Mathew 5:16

16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and

glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to

destroy, but to fulfil.

18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall

in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall

teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but

whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom

of heaven.

20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the

righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the

kingdom of heaven.

Let's pick the verse one after the other.

Matthew 5:16 KJV LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE before men, that they may SEE

YOUR GOODWORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER which is in heaven.

After the Lord Jesus Christ said that we are the light of the world then he said we

should let our light so shine before men that they may see our GOOD WORKS, he

went further to say do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the

prophets.

Matthew 5:17 KJV Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I

am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. If we look deeply into these verses we

would observe that there is a link between them, we also see that the law and

the instructions of the prophets produces good works and Christ is telling us that

we should let our light so shine that people would see our good works. Why must

they see our good works? It is not for self glorification but for God's praise,

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therefore, when we do works that does not give glory to God, they are dead works.

Please, brethren I want you to know that religion has eaten most people up that

they can no longer differentiate good works from ordinary rules and regulations.

Some say since Christ has come then the law and the prophets are no longer

needed but The lord said that he came to fulfill the law and not to destroy it. This

tells us that the law was not abolished. The word "destroy" as used by Christ

simply means to "loosen down" to "demolish", "to halt" "dissolve" "thrown down"

all these Christ said He did not come to do all these stated above but He came to

fulfill the law. Jesus Christ Himself followed the law because He was born under

the law. Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth

his Son, made of a woman, MADE UNDER THE LAW, He was the only one who

fulfilled and met all the requirements of the law, so He did not neglect the Laws

because they were actually given by God. The moment we give our lives to Him,

we will fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. There are different kinds of

laws, some of which are the natural laws, sacrificial laws, ceremonial laws etc but

in this passage the Lord did not tell us that he has come to destroy any specific

part of the law but a close study into The word of God will tell us what actually

happened at the long run.

So the coming of the lord Jesus is to fulfill all the defects of the law and so to

complete and perfect it, therefore assuming the law is a vessel that has water in it

He did not come to pour the water away but to fill it to the brim, assuming the

law was a sketch drawing, He came to put details to it to make it clearer. He did

not make void but made good of the laws, He manifested Himself to be the

substance of all the shadows, The gospel is the time of Reformation. Hebrews 9:10

Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal

ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. We are now in the

reformation era, praise God!. He did not do a repeal of the law but the

amendment of it and consequently its establishment.

Therefore are we under the law? No!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah!!!

It is important to know what it means when the Bible talks of "The law" it refers

to the detailed standard God gave to Moses beginning from Exodus 20, with the

Ten Commandments. God's law explains His requirements for a Holy people and

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it included the categories civil, ceremonial and moral laws. The purpose of the

law was to separate God's people from the evil nations around them and to define

sin, In many instances did God command His people not to do like the

unbelievers around them that they should not copy their ways. Ezra 10:11 Now

therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure:

AND SEPARATE YOURSELVES FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND, and from the

strange wives. Looking into the above verse we see that what God wanted from

His people was simply separation! that is, they must be separate from the pagan

world in every way, they should not look like them in action, in words, in

character, in appearance, in reasoning, and thoughts and the first step to do God's

pleasure was to separate themselves, we should not forget that these people were

already God's people not unbelievers, It's only those who are saved that can be

able to separate themselves.

A dog cannot separate himself from other dogs claiming to be a lion, that is why

we have taught on separation in this forum severally. Please read the topics on

"separation" and "consecration."

When there was no law, there was no sin. Therefore is the Law sin? Apostle Paul

answers it. Romans 7:7 NLT Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is evil?

Of course not! The law is not sinful, but it was the law that showed me my sin. I

would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, "Do not

covet." If the law is not sin then why do many people avoid the law like a plague?

Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when

there is no law. The law made it clear that no human being could purify himself

enough to please God, therefore it revealed our need for a Savior. During the New

testament era the religious leaders had hijacked the law and added to it their own

rules and regulations that was why the Lord rebuked them saying they worship

Him in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, there was

nothing wrong in teaching the commandment of God but adding to it was a

grievous offence before God. Mark 7:7-9 Howbeit in vain do they worship me,

teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. [8] For laying aside the

commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and

cups: and many other such like things ye do. [9] And he said unto them, Full well

ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

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They rejected the commandments of God!

Just the same way many so called Christians rejects the commandments of God.

But while the law itself was good it was weak that it lacked the power to change a

sinful heart. Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak

through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for

sin, condemned sin in the flesh: now let's see what the book of hebrews tells us

about the old requirements concerning the priesthood that it was set aside

because it was weak and useless.

Hebrews 7:17-22 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of

Melchisedec. [18] For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going

before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. [19] For the law made

nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did ; by the which we draw

nigh unto God. [20] And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest : [21]

(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that

said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after

the order of Melchisedec:) [22] BY SO MUCH WAS JESUS MADE A SURETY OF A

BETTER TESTAMENT. Keeping the law as interpreted by the pharisees had

become an oppressive and overwhelming burden. Luke 11:46 KJV And he said,

Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be

borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. This

verse clearly shows that the burden The Lord Jesus Christ was talking about here

is not the commandment of God but the superfluities of their own lustful desires.

It was then at this point The Lord came and conflicts with the hypocritical

arbiters of the law was inevitable, but at the same time, Jesus the lawgiver says

do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets I have not come

to abolish them but to fulfill them, the law was not evil it served as a mirror to

reveal the condition of a man's heart although the 21st century Christians sees

the law as evil which must be thrown away to a place as far as hell.

John 1:17 says For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus

Christ. Jesus embodied the perfect balance between Grace and the law. (John

1:14). God has always being full of grace Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not

your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: FOR HE IS GRACIOUS AND

MERCIFUL, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

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and people has always being saved by Faith in God. James 2:23 And the scripture

was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him

for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. God did not change

between the Old testament and the New testament the same God who gave us the

law also gave us Jesus Christ. - John 3:16

Is someone still following me please?

His love was demonstrated through the law by providing the sacrificial system to

cover sin. Jesus was then born under the law and became the final sacrifice to

bring the law to fulfilment and established the new covenant. Luke 22:20

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my

blood, which is shed for you. Now anyone who comes to God through Jesus Christ

is righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew

no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The conflict between Jesus and the self-righteous arose immediately. Many who

had lived for so long under the pharisees oppressive system eagerly embraced

the mercy of Christ and the freedom He offered. Mark 2:15 And it came to pass,

that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also

together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

Christ then became the end of the Law for righteousness. Romans 10:4 For Christ

is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. This new

dimension of Grace is seen as dangerous by some people, thinking in their hearts

that why should we cast off all moral restraint because we are no longer under

the law but in Christ. Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in

sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin,

live any longer therein? By this statement Paul clarified what Jesus had taught,

the law shows us what God wants (holiness) and Grace gives us the desire and

power to be holy.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that

he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the

Spirit: Hence, Jesus being the end of the law does not mean the abolition of the

Law, it rather shows us how the law cannot justify anyone, but faith in Christ

because He fulfilled it to be the end of it, It means the law is now in Christ not for

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you to follow according to the flesh but according to the power of God in you.

Rather than trusting the law to save us, we trust in Christ. We are freed from the

laws bondage by His once for all sacrifice.

There is no conflict between law and Grace if properly understood, Christ

fulfilled the law on our behalf and offers the power of The Holy Spirit who

motivates us and regenerate our hearts to live in obedience to Him. John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my

name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,

whatsoever I have said unto you. In most cases the law is usually referred to as

works (not –good works) by those who do not want to obey the commandments of

God which is now in Christ Jesus. That is why Apostle James addressed this

matter in James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without

works is dead also. A grace that has the power to save also has the power to

motivate a sinful heart toward godliness, where there is no impulse to godliness

there is no saving Faith so the moment you see people who are living their lives

like sinners claiming that it is only faith that is required by God then it means

that there is no saving Faith in them. Genuine Faith produces good works in the

life that is having the light of Christ, such life would showcase good works. We

are saved by grace through Faith the keeping of the law cannot save anyone in

fact those who claim to be righteous on the basis of their keeping of the law only

think they are keeping the law because the righteousness God wants from us

must exceed that of the pharisees and this cannot be gotten through the

observance of the law but by allowing Christ to take over our all. It is Christ's

righteousness that would help us remain righteous and even go far beyond the

law to please Him, the purpose of the law was basically to bring us to Christ, once

we are saved, God desire is to guide us and glorify Himself through our good

works therefore, good works follow salvation and do not proceed it. Ephesians

2:10 For we are his workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD

WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Matthew

5:16 Let your light so shine before men, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD

WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Considering this illustration, we would be able to understand the relationship

between law and grace, assuming you are driving at high speed against the law of

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the state, then you are caught by the police who then pardoned(gave you grace)

and did not punish you for breaking the law, after being advised against

overspeeding and have received pardon, would it be nice for you to continue to

overspeed? Has the pardon (grace) given to you by the policeman aborted the law

against over speeding? Certainly not! Instead it calls for caution to obey the Law

of which you were pardoned earlier.

Since Christ did not abolish the commandments of God then The Holy Spirit in us,

would help us to follow His commandments reminding us and also helping us to

teach others without struggle. In as much as we put our trust and faith in Him but

discarding God's commandments would only incur His wrath upon us. Matthew

5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and

shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but

whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom

of heaven. That is why as Christians we must be filled with The Holy Ghost so that

He would always guide us to please God.

2 Chronicles 24:20 KJV

And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which

stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why TRANSGRESS

YE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye

have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. Breaking God's

commandments does not have anything good to offer anyone, it does not make

one prosper. We must look at God's commandments from His perspective.

These must be known concerning Gods laws

- God's Law is the Truth: Psalm 119:142 KJV Thy righteousness is an everlasting

righteousness, and thy law is the truth. And Psalm 119:151 KJV Thou art near, O

Lord ; and all thy commandments are truth.

- We must delight in the commandments: Psalm 119:35 KJV Make me to go in

the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. And Psalm 1:2 KJV But

his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and

night.

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-We must honor the commandments: Psalm 119:48 KJV My hands also will I lift

up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy

statutes.

- We must believe the commandments: Psalm 119:66 KJV Teach me good

judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

- The commandments must be learned: Psalm 119:73 KJV Thy hands have made

me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy

commandments.

- Gods commandments are faithful: Psalm 119:86 KJV All thy commandments

are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. and Psalm 119:138 KJV

Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.

- We must love the Law: Psalm 119:97 KJV O how love I thy law! it is my

meditation all the day. And Psalm 119:127 KJV Therefore I love thy

commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

- The commandments must be kept: Psalm 119:115 KJV Depart from me, ye

evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

- The Law is righteousness: Psalm 119:172 KJV My tongue shall speak of thy

word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

- The Law should not be forgotten: Psalm 119:176 KJV I have gone astray like a

lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

In conclusion,

Grace has not given us the license to be lawless, we Christians do not follow the

law as a form of rules and regulations that must be adhered to religiously but we

do because The Spirit of God in us spurs us to do what pleases God because we

love Him. Those who follow God's commandments according to the flesh without

genuine salvation are only being religious and cannot do it to glorify Christ and

as a matter of fact there is no one who has genuinely encountered Christ that will

break God's commandments and also teach others to do same, those who do that

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are those who do not love God or care about eternity. John 14:21 KJV He that hath

my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth

me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to

him.

Law and Grace -