Grace
Law and Grace
John 1:17
The law was given through Moses,
but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ
God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us
when we need it.
NCV
We need to start with the understanding of Paul that the law is good and not evil. Many Christians confuse the law with legalism, a point discussed momentarily. Legalism is certainly not good. It is the disease of the Pharisees during the time of Jesus. It is placing manmade restrictions upon grace. An example of modern legalism is a church that accepts the concept women are to dress modestly, then turns around and describes in great detail what modest means – length of hair, amount of makeup, type of jewelry, length of skirt, looseness of blouse, no pants, etc., etc., etc. The Bible teaches that God deals with each of us in our sins. I believe it is proper for a church to preach modesty and the reasons behind it, indeed, to provide examples of proper dress, and, perhaps, even to “strongly preach against” some forms of dress, such as very short skirts or low cut tops. But, beyond that, imposing an actual dress code is legalistic and will drive searching souls away from God rather than into His loving arms.
What must be seen is that the law is a manifestation of grace, but a manifestation that has a proper place and purpose. Keep in mind the setting. We have already mentioned that God brought the Israelites out of Egypt based upon His grace. Consider, for example, these Scriptures:
Exodus 19:4
‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians,
and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
Deuteronomy 7:7-8
7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose
you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were
the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because
He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has
brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house
of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
The command of the Old Testament is for the nation to “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19:2). How would the nation understand what it means to be holy? God provided them with a set of instructions on the meaning of holiness. This set of instructions is the law. The law is a definition of holiness and righteousness.
Exodus 19:5-6
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice
and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above
all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom
of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall
speak to the children of Israel.”.
