Law and Grace
Lesson 12
Marking Code: LG
Marking Color: Blue
Key Text: Ephesians 2:8,9
- Ephesians
2:8,9. The Bible is clear
that we are saved by
God’s grace, through our
faith in Him and His saving
sacrifice-not by our works or
obedience to God’s law.
Salvation is God’s gift
to us by His grace.
- Acts 4:12. Sometimes
we hear individuals say that
human beings were once saved
by obedience to the law (in
Old Testament times), but
that on this side of the
Cross-we are saved by grace
alone. The Bible disagrees!
No one is saved by the law-or
ever has been. Jesus is the
only source of salvation for
sinners.
Romans 5:18-21. As
soon as Adam sinned, grace abounded
to sinners.
- Romans
6:12-15. Paul says that
Christians are not
“under law but under
grace” (verse 14). Some
have interpreted this verse
to mean that before the
Cross-individuals were saved
by the law-by their obedience
to it-but after the Cross-we
are under grace and have no
obligation to keep God’s
law. How do we reconcile
Paul’s
“problem” statement
with the Bible teaching that
salvation is by grace and
always has been?
- Matthew
5:17-19. Jesus says that
He did not come to destroy
the law and that the law will
last as long as heaven and
earth itself. So the law must
have an important
function-even if it is not
the source of our salvation.
Note: There are
at least three types of
“law” mentioned in the
Bible:
Civil law. These dealt
with the government and society of
the nation of Israel. Exodus 22:1.
Ceremonial law. These
dealt with the religious sacrificial
services of the temple and the
worship of Israel. They were
temporary and were designed to point
forward tot eh work of Jesus as the
Messiah and Lamb of God. Leviticus
4:27-31.
God’s moral
law-the Ten Commandments. These are
permanent expressions of God’s
character and remain valid for all
peoples and all times. Exodus
32:15,16; Deuteronomy 10:3,4, 5; 2
Chronicles 5:10. Paul endorsed the
fact that they are permanent
expressions of God’s will for
us. Romans 7:7, 12, 14, 22.
- 1 John 3:4.
Sin is lawlessness-or the
transgression of the law,
breaking the law.
- Romans
6:23. The
“wages”-the
result-of sin is death,
eternal death.
- Romans
8:1-4. In these verses,
Paul gives us the proper
relationship between law and
grace-and provides the
“solution” to his
statement in Romans 6:14 that
we are not under law, but
under grace. Paul says that
we are not under the
condemnation of the law of
sin and death. God’s
grace has set us free from
the condemnation of the law.
However, we now love so that
the righteous requirements of
the law might be fulfilled in
us-not to be saved, but in
love and gratitude that we
have been saved.
- Romans
7:7,8. The problem is not
with the law; it is with our
sinful nature! Paul is clear
that grace does not do away
with God’s law.
Romans 6:15.
- Ephesians
2:14-16. The ceremonial
laws of sacrifices and temple
rituals are no longer valid
for God’s people because
the reality they pointed
forward to-Jesus’
sacrifice-has taken place.
Colossians 2:16,17.
Galatians 5:1.
Daniel 9:27.
- Romans 1:5.
One purpose of God’s
grace is to enable His saved
people to be obedient.
Romans 2:13; 16:26.
LG-End.
