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Hoyte Nelson's Poems/ Reflections & Biblical Essays
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Essay Law and Grace(and man’s salvation) “The
Law was given by (through) Moses, but grace and truth was given by Jesus
Christ” (John 1:17, KJV). The
Ten Commandments: I
would like to compare the Law to a statement made by the Apostle Paul when he
said, “…I am made all things to all men,
that I might by all means (of communication), save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22 As the Apostle Paul could not,
in himself, save anyone, neither can the Law, in itself, save anyone - “for he
said, “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”(Romans 3:20). Therefore, we must be saved by Grace through
faith;” that is, in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:8,9) It
is important to remember that God did not give the Ten Commandments in order to
make Israel His people, but because they were His people by faith in the
promise, given to Abraham, (and now fulfilled in Christ); therefore, the Law was
an instrument of discipline in the fulfillment of His divine purposes through
His people Israel in order to fulfill the promise given to Abraham: “That in
you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3b, KJV. The law then has a two-fold purpose: One, it is the
standard of righteousness by which God would lead Israel in the fulfillment of
His Messianic purpose, and secondly, it is the mirror through which mankind can
see his lost condition; and therefore, his need of a Savior. The Apostle Paul
recorded it this way: “What shall we say
then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay,
I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law
had said, Thou shall not covet. He goes on to say, “I thank God through Jesus
Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with
the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:7,25). The
Apostle Paul gives us this example: “But
Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to
(measured up to) the law of righteousness. Wherefore, because they
sought it not by faith, but as it was by the works of the law, they stumbled
at the stumbling-stone” (Romans 9:31,32, KJV), and secondly he said,
“wherefore the law was (is) our schoolmaster to
bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith
is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:24,25). Therefore,
the Law has a twofold purpose: One is, “that sin by the commandments might
become exceeding sinful,” therefore, lead us to Christ (Romans 7: 13b);
secondly, it is an instrument of condemnation to all who refuse to put their
trust in Christ. (See: 2 Thessalonians 1: 5-13) With
this as a background, let us view both “Law and Grace” as complimentary
gifts of God. As our text says, “The law was given by (through) Moses…” In
other words, Moses was God’s agent to receive the Law, and it is the whole
counsel of God relative to the sin question (Romans 7:9-13); nevertheless, the
law does not make us righteous, only in Jesus Christ is anyone “counted” as
righteous in the sight of God. (Romans 5:19). Therefore, the Law is God’s mirror whereby we can see our selves as sinners, and, lead by
the Holy Spirit, turn to Jesus for salvation which is by grace through faith in
the finished work of Jesus Christ. This has always been God’s purpose in
giving the Law. “Grace,” on the other hand, says (in effect): Mr. “Law”
(Man), bring the sinners to me, guilty though are be, that I might, in the
promise fulfilled in Christ, cleanse them from all their sins. The Apostle Paul
says, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin
abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20, NASV). (This is what is
called, “Being saved,” or being “born again”). Conclusion,
One might ask, aren’t Christians supposed to live a godly and righteous life
as a follower of Jesus Christ? Truly, we are to be the very best people that we
possibly can be walking in the Spirit, but even so, we all fall far short of the
glory of God’s holiness embodied in His holy Law. I saw a bumper sticker that
read, “I’m not perfect, just forgiven.” I do not give much credence to
bumpers stickers, but this one is worthy of our attention. P.S. There are two fundamental
truths that were spoken by Jesus that demands our attention: He said, “For
verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew
5:18), and again, “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle
of the law to fail” (Luke 16:17). Therefore, according to the
words of Jesus, not one sin will go un-accounted for; neither will one sin enter
heaven! But this is what the gospel is all about. Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb
of God has satisfied all the demands of the law as he walked a sinless life upon
this earth; crossing every “t,” and dotting every “i;” Furthermore, in
his death he paid in full the penalty for our sins on the cross. But that’s not the whole
story: In his resurrection he also confirmed for all eternity our justification.
Isaiah said, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and
shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;
for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore
will I divide him a portion with the
great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out
his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the
sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:11,12). Every “dot” and every
“tittle” has been rendered void forever for all who put their faith and
trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. Amen! “For by grace are you saved,
through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians
2:8). |