5 Things You Need To Know About Grace And The Law

Opening Scripture And Definitions

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18). Let’s begin by defining these two terms. It’s very important to understand them starting with their definitions. So what are Grace and Law?

In Greek, the word for “grace” is “charis” (χάρις) which means unmerited favor or kindness. It
refers to God’s undeserved blessings. The word for “law” in Greek is “nomos” (νόμος) which refers to the set of rules or principles that govern behavior. For example, we have the law that governs a given country though we will look at the law in the kingdom of God.

Why You Need Grace And Not The Law

Now, this is quite something to discuss. Christ says one time “Do not think that I have come to abolish Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17) So I am not saying that the law is bad but the contrary. We need it. Let me lay a foundation before we get there.

Grace is unmerited favor that comes from God. In other words, it is a way in which God gives you an enabling power to do something that you wouldn’t do on the from the ordinary self. For instance look at the old testament. It’s pure law. They followed the law of God as we did not have the Holy Spirit to guide them. In other words, the Holy Spirit rested on some but he did not indwell in them. How wonderful! in this dispensation we have the Holy Ghost ALL THE TIME WITH US.

Let’s continue some verses to establish this “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) Grace came through Christ to us, that’s why it’s always good to say “I am living by the grace of God” which I am sure you’ve heard it from many believers.

Look at this story “but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning, he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they
went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

This story illustrates the grace of God. Jesus brought a woman caught in adultery. The law of Moses commanded anyone found in such an act to be stoned to death. You can see here how the law of Moses had cruel acts or punishments. This is one of the characteristics of the law even to this day in some religions (comment below).

There’s is the punishment which is NOT wrong but then there is forgiveness. This is where GRACE comes in. We see Christ ends up forgiving the woman of her sins and MOST IMPORTANTLY he does NOT condemn her. This reminds me of this verse in Romans, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

When you’re led by the Spirit living a holy life becomes easy. So where does the law come in? Paul acknowledges we need the law but at the same time this is what he says “and be found in him, not having a RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MY OWN that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith“.

This simply means that someone is having his own self-righteousness which is dependent on the law but not on Christ. As many are led by the Holy Spirit these are SONS OF GOD. You simply need the Holy Spirit you CAN’T DEPEND ON THE LAW alone to live a holy life. This is where religion comes in.

A TRUE BELIEVER led by Christ will know how to use the law well. He says the Spirit goes with the word. So this means we need the law but NOT like the old testament way. We’re living in the dispensation of the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Grace WORKS WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

This is how the Law works. The Law is FROM WITHOUT what do I mean? The law will tell you DON’T DO THESE but it will NOT give you the POWER to execute that which it has told you. However, GRACE works from within in other words there is POWER to enable you not to do something wrong.

Be Free From Any Addiction

Let me give you an example let’s say you’re struggling with an ADDICTION. You’ve been wondering how to get rid of it but nothing works. So here is the solution first be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. When the urge to do that thing comes the Grace of God will be there to help you escape this trap.

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