The Relationship Between Law and Grace

The relationship between God's Law and His amazing Grace is one of the most profound and often misunderstood doctrines in Christian theology. To some, they appear to be contradictory forces: the Law, a rigid set of demands; Grace, a boundless outpouring of unmerited favour. However, a careful study of the King James Bible reveals that these two divine principles are not at odds, but rather work in perfect harmony, each revealing different facets of God's righteous and loving character, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The Purpose and Limitations of the Law

The Law, given by God through Moses, was holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). It served several crucial purposes. Primarily, it was given to reveal God's perfect standard of righteousness and to make humanity aware of its sinfulness. Before the Law, sin was in the world, but its true nature and extent were not fully known. As the Apostle Paul declares:

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:20

The Law acted as a mirror, reflecting our inability to meet God's perfect standard. It showed us what sin was, as seen in Romans 7:7: "I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." The Law also served as a "schoolmaster" or "tutor" to bring us unto Christ, as stated in Galatians 3:24. It exposed our desperate need for a Saviour, demonstrating that no one could ever perfectly keep all its demands. The Law, though perfect in itself, was "weak through the flesh" (Romans 8:3), meaning that fallen humanity lacked the power to obey it perfectly. Thus, while it defined righteousness, it could not confer it. It condemned the sinner but could not justify him.

The Abundance of Grace in Christ

Where the Law revealed man's inability, Grace reveals God's boundless ability and willingness to save. Grace is God's unmerited favour, freely given to those who do not deserve it. It is the very essence of the Gospel message. Salvation is not earned by works of the Law, but is a gift received by faith in Jesus Christ, as clearly articulated in Ephesians 2:8-9:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Jesus Christ is the embodiment of grace. He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He lived a perfect, sinless life, perfectly obeying every jot and tittle of the Law, something no human ever could. Then, He willingly offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, bearing the penalty for our transgressions, thereby satisfying the just demands of the Law on our behalf. His death on the cross and resurrection are the ultimate expressions of God's grace, making it possible for sinful humanity to be reconciled to a holy God.

The transition from Law to Grace is not a transition from one set of rules to no rules, but from a covenant of works to a covenant of faith. Under the Law, man was expected to obey to live. Under Grace, man lives by faith, and that new life empowers him to obey. The Law was given by Moses, but "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).

Grace Establishes, Not Annuls, the Law

A common misconception is that if we are "not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14), then the Law is no longer relevant for believers. This perspective, often called antinomianism (anti-law), is strongly refuted in Scripture. Paul asks in Romans 3:31, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

How does grace establish the Law?

  • It Fulfills the Law: Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law's requirements both in His life of perfect obedience and in His atoning death, satisfying its penalty. Believers are accounted righteous, not by their own works, but by faith in Christ's finished work, whose righteousness is imputed to them.
  • It Empowers Obedience: The Law could command righteousness, but it could not empower a fallen man to achieve it. Grace, however, provides the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers and enables them to walk in obedience to God's will. Romans 8:4 states that the "righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." The Spirit writes God's laws on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10), giving us a desire and ability to please God, not out of fear of punishment, but out of love and gratitude.
  • It Elevates the Law to Love: Jesus summarized the entire Law in two commandments: to love God with all our being and to love our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Paul reiterates this, stating that "love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10). When grace transforms our hearts, we are compelled by love to live in a way that naturally aligns with the spirit of the Law. We don't obey to be saved; we obey because we are saved and because we love Him who saved us (John 14:15).

    • Living Under Grace: Freedom and Responsibility

    Being "under grace" means that our standing with God is based entirely on His unmerited favour through Christ, not on our performance. This brings glorious freedom from the condemnation of the Law. However, this freedom is not a license to sin. Paul anticipates this very question in Romans 6:1-2: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

    Instead, grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12). The Law reveals our sin; grace provides the remedy for sin and the power to overcome it. The Law is our standard; grace is our strength.

    • The Law guides our conduct: It shows us God's moral will and reveals what pleases Him.
    • Grace empowers our obedience: It provides the Holy Spirit to enable us to walk in that will.
    The Christian life is not a striving to earn God's favour through obedience to the Law, but a joyful response of obedience to the God who has already lavished His favour upon us through Christ. We are not under the Law as a means of salvation, but the Law remains a guide for sanctification, understood through the lens of Christ's perfect fulfillment and the Spirit's enabling power.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, the Law and Grace are not antagonists but complementary aspects of God's redemptive plan. The Law serves to reveal our sin and our desperate need for a Saviour. Grace provides that Saviour in Jesus Christ, offering salvation freely by faith. For the believer, grace does not abolish the Law but establishes it by fulfilling its demands through Christ and empowering obedience through the Holy Spirit. We are no longer condemned by the Law, but through grace, we are enabled to live lives that reflect the righteousness the Law demands, all to the glory of God. It is a relationship of profound harmony, where God's holiness and His love are perfectly displayed.