UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF LAW AND GRACE
Paul, early in his letter to the believers in Rome, clarified the seeming contradictions between law and grace. First, we also need to establish that grace is not a new doctrine, but existed in the Old Testament. Also, remember that Jesus IS the God of the Old Testament (I Cor.10:1-4).
Jonah 4:2, “So he prayed to the LORD, and said, ‘Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.’”
Romans 3:30-31, “…since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
The Apostle to the gentiles says that if there is no law then one does not need grace. Also, faith does not replace the law. We all need grace because people are not capable of perfectly or completely obeying the law.
Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
Paul is establishing the need to obey the law before he reveals the higher ways of grace so people wouldn't misunderstand. Yet most clerics today think he canceled the law –– unbelievable!
WHY TRUSTING IN SELF WON'T WORK, EVEN WITH THE BEST OF MOTIVES
The author of most of the New Testament made some major observations on this issue.
Romans 9:31-33, “…but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’”
Romans 10:1-3, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”
Paul's countrymen are clearly very sincere in seeking God and have a lot of zeal, yet they have not achieved their objective. Why? They are relying on themselves too much and not on God. Blind zeal is dangerous! They did not know how to rely on faith. This is the struggle for all of us as well. How can we rely on faith and trust in God instead of our human understanding and righteousness? Misguided religious zeal has often led to horrible persecutions in the name of God. One must learn to obey from the heart with love and humility, not self-righteousness.
Romans 6:17, “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.”
Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus is requiring us to obey God's Laws at a higher level than that of the Pharisees, who obeyed in the letter vigorously. Christ will help us to to grow into that higher level. It is not just the letter of the law but the deeper spirit of it as well.
Romans 8:2-3, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh…”
Trust in Jesus is the key to moving to these higher levels of righteousness. Rely on God, not self.
Romans 8:4, “…that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Verse 10, “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors –– not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.”
Jesus inspired Paul to reveal that this includes NOT approaching religion in the same manner as regular fleshly humans do, which is often self-righteous and missing the mark. Do not try to impress God with your righteousness. Instead, let Him lead us into His true spiritual goodness.
Romans 9:1-3, “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,”
Paulknew that his people were not reaching true Godly righteousness even though they had the law, because they pursued it without faith and trust in Christ. We must get close and remain close to Jesus. We must get to know Christ more intimately and also let Him get to know us.
CLOSENESS AND LOVE OF JESUS OF NAZARETH IS A KEY TO TRUE GROWTH
Those who do not remain close to God are in danger. In Matthew 25, Jesus gives us three vital parables. The first involves virgins that failed to maintain spiritual readiness and closeness.
Matthew 25:11-12, “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’”
While the years drag on, work hard to remain close to God and continue our loving relationship with God. This will allow us to reach higher levels of righteousness. The second parable involves using our talents to serve God and His work and to grow. God demands growth!
Matthew 25:24-26, “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid,and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.’”
If you are cowardly or too lazy to develop spiritual fruit to help the church get a return on God's investment in you, God will not be pleased. We must be determined to grow ourselves and help to spread the gospel as well. The third parable says serve and do “good works.”
Matthew 25:44-45, “Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’”
God requires us to help others. Can we show Jesus evidence of trying to help others in our community. Opportunities maybe limited but one should help others in and out of the church. Everyone needs evidence of good works because our actions help us to reach higher levels of righteousness. Serving others propels our spiritual growth. It is better to give than to receive! Actuating our beliefs facilitates real Christian love.
