Law and Grace
“For
sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are
not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14)
It’s interesting
to note the many laws portrayed in the New
Testament. The “Law” is usually associated with the
Old Testament, but one of Jesus’ first statements in
public ministry was: ”Do not
think that I came to destroy the Law or the
Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth
pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means
pass from the law till all is fulfilled”
(Matthew 5:17-18). And He continued, “Whoever
therefore breaks one of the least of these
commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called
least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and
teaches them, he shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19). We’re
under God’s Law, and yet, we’re “not
under law but under
(His)
grace” (Romans 6:14). It sounds like two
ideas in opposition to one another, but both are
true in the sight of God. And by the way, here are
just a few of many New Testament rules; with most of
them found in the Sermon on the Mount as recorded by
Matthew the Apostle:
-
REJOICE
when you are reviled and persecuted (Matthew
5:11)
-
Make sure
your light (actually God’s light in you) shines
before men (Matthew 5:16)
-
Your
righteousness must exceed the most “holy” people
you can think of (M. 5:20)
-
DON’T BE
ANGRY with your sibling without cause; don’t
call him a fool (M. 5:22)
-
Don’t do
religious acts until you reconcile with someone
like your sibling (5:24)
-
AGREE with
your adversaries; DON’T ARGUE with them (5:25)
-
DON’T LOOK
UPON ANYONE WITH LUST – ever (5:28)
-
NO DIVORCE
unless they committed adultery; don’t marry a
divorced person (5:32)
-
DO NOT
SWEAR (make a vow) about anything – ever (5:34)
-
If somebody
slaps you, LET THEM SLAP YOU AGAIN (5:39)
-
If someone
sues you, GIVE THEM ALL THEY WANT and more
(5:40)
-
When
somebody wants to borrow, GIVE THEM WHAT THEY
WANT (5:42)
-
LOVE YOUR
ENEMIES, bless those who curse you, do good to
those who hate you, and PRAY FOR THOSE WHO
SPITEFULLY USE YOU (5:44)
-
BE PERFECT,
just as your Father in heaven is perfect (5:48)
-
When you do
something nice, DO IT IN SECRET so nobody will
see (6:1-3)
-
WHEN YOU
PRAY, DON’T LET ANYONE SEE YOU DO IT (6:6)
-
DON’T USE
VAIN REPETITIONS (repeat yourself) in prayer
(6:7)
-
If you want
to be forgiven, FORGIVE OTHERS (6:15)
-
When you
fast (stop eating), DO IT TO GOD ONLY; not for
people to see (6:16-18)
And it goes on. A
problem for many: “Do not
worry,” in Matthew 6:25. Paul said the same
thing in Philippians 4:6 (another law) – “Be
anxious for nothing… but pray in “everything.”
Men can’t wear hats in public religious gatherings
(1 Corinthians 11:7), men can’t have long hair (1
Corinthians 11:4), women SHOULD have long hair (1
Corinthians 11:15), and so on. Now, this is only a
tiny sampling of the rules in the New Testament.
Observing most “Christian” people, we can see the
difficulty with John 13:34-35, where Jesus commanded
us to “love one another.”
He shared an embarrassing (for us) reason why the
world does not hear our words and turn to Christ: “By
this all will know that you are My disciples, IF you
have LOVE for one another.” The widespread
unwillingness to love is confusing to outsiders.
It’s time to love others, even when they don’t go to
“our” church.
Examine yourself
in relation to the few rules (out of many) we
observed today: Are you “PERFECT,
just as your Father in heaven is perfect?”
(Matthew 5:48). Do you “worry”
(Matthew 6:25). Are you ever “anxious?”
Do you pray in “everything?”
Do you ever have unkind thoughts? If you have
enemies, do you love them? Do you pray for them?
Isaiah said in the
power of the Holy Spirit, “We
are all like an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah
64:6). Jeremiah said, “The
heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). James observed, “whoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in ONE
point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
Paul said, “ALL have sinned
and come short of the glory of God” (Romans
3:23).
We are all guilty
before God and there is no escape for anyone on
earth. What can we do? And the answer to that
question is disturbing – Nothing! You can try to
follow the rules of any so-called “holy book” the
world offers, all your life, and it won’t help. All
that can save you is the “grace”
of God, as stated in our Scripture for today: “For
sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are
not under law but under grace” (Romans
6:14). Another Scripture that reveals God’s
intention for you is Galatians 5:18 - “If
you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the
law.” His Spirit helps us become a people
who love.
“Grace”
is unmerited favor. Something good you don’t
deserve is given to you, just because somebody wants
to. It’s interesting what happened to Billy Graham,
some years ago, seen in “Progress
Magazine,” December 14, 1992 (and on websites
such as sermonillustrations.com):
Reverend Graham
was driving through a small southern town, when he
was stopped by a policeman and charged with
speeding. Graham admitted he was guilty, but was
told by the officer that he must appear in court.
The judge asked, "Guilty,
or not guilty?" Graham said “Guilty”
and the judge replied, "That'll
be ten dollars -- a dollar for every mile over the
limit." But the judge recognized Graham. "You
have violated the law; you are guilty," he
said. "The fine must be
paid--but I am going to pay it for you." He
took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached
it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and
bought him a steak dinner! "That,"
said Billy Graham, "is
how God treats repentant sinners!"
It IS an excellent
illustration of the grace of God in your life and
mine. The event was comparatively small, but it
helps us understand the infinitely great work done
for humanity by God Himself. We sinned, and larger
than the $10.00 for Reverend Graham, “the
wages of sin is DEATH, but the GIFT of God is
eternal LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord”
(Romans 6:23).
The judge paid
Billy Graham’s fine. Jesus Christ paid for the sins
of the world. Jesus Christ IS the “grace”
of God for you and me. Let’s pray:
Father, just like
Billy Graham, we are guilty. We deserve nothing,
but You have given us everything in Your Son. We
trust in Him now. Forgive our sins. Lord, and fill
our lives with the “grace,”
the unmerited favor of God. Fill us, Holy Spirit.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
