Law or Grace?

In Galatians 3:10, Paul writes “Anyone who tries to please God by obeying the Law is under a curse.” The Scriptures [Deuteronomy 27:26] say, “Everyone who doesn’t obey everything in the Law is under a curse” (CEV). Note that Paul refers to “a curse.” Singular. ”The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines curse as “to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon.” Certain religions have practices that, in essence, place a curse on someone. Although I am not an expert on these practices but I do know that the source of a curse is not God. If it is not of God, then it must be of Satan. I would ask you, is Satan or God more powerful? If we are living under grace our God can overcome any curse placed upon us.

The Law. We have a choice. We can live under the curse or we can live by grace. There is no other option. In the Old Testament Moses was given the Law.  One might ask “Why?” Although the law was given for a number of reasons, we will only look at those relevance for us today.

First, the law reveals God’s holy character and His expectations of us. Since we cannot lead a sinless life, the law shows us that we fall short of the law. Without other provisions by God, we cannot be righteous and are under the curse. We fall short under God.

Second, the law provided forgiveness through sacrifice, setting the stage for Jesus coming to earth to atone for our sins. It also tells us how to worship Him. In Leviticus 23, God established the concept of the sabbath as well as times for other Holy feasts and celebrations. 

Third, the law gives directions for the physical and spiritual health of God’s people (Deuteronomy 6:4-19). We live as a part of God’s creation. Don’t you think He knows what is best for us in all respects?

Grace. When God made man, He knew that it would be impossible for anyone to live a sinless, holy life. Thus, in His infinite knowledge, He, at creation, he provided a way for us to escape the curse. The provision was Jesus coming to earth, living a perfect life among men, and being hung on a cross to atone for our sins. While He died for all, He died just for me and for you. He reached down and took our hand.

What is grace? Grace is an unmerited favor. We don’t deserve it, but God loves us so much He grants us grace that we may enter His Kingdom. I grew up in Grace Baptist Church. I frequently heard grace described as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.   

Several years ago, a former student was serving as adjunct faculty at the college where I taught. She contacted me with a dilemma. A student had turned in a research paper and not given any citations or references. She asked what I would do. I reminded her I once had a student who did the same thing. And I gave her an opportunity to correct the paper. She immediately realized that I was talking about her. That was a reminder that grace is flowing. We receive grace from God and others and we should pass it on.

Legalism. Unfortunately, people often fail to extend grace to others. They become legalistic. To me, grace and legalism are opposites. R. C. Sproul outlined three characteristics of legalism. First, legalism focuses on God’s laws more than on a relationship with Him. Keeping the law becomes an end in itself.

Second, legalism obeys the externals without a desire to follow God. This removes obedience from our relationship to Him.  Third, a legalist will add human rules to divine laws and treat them as divine. What began as a custom morphs into law. Jesus accused the Pharisees of this very thing. Many of us do this today.

Living in Grace. Grace changes everything. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CEV) tells us “Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” 

Grace is a gift. Ephesian 2:8 (CEV) reads “You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve .This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own.” The gift is yours to open. No one else can open it for you.

God rewards those who seek Him. Matthew 6:33 promises “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

Does God’s grace flow through you?  When we obey Him, the floodgates of Heaven are opened and grace abounds.

 

Scripture is from the NASB unless otherwise indicated.

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