LAW and GRACE

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Law and Grace are two CONTRASTING principles. The most obvious and striking division of the Word of Truth is that between Law and Grace. These contrasting principles characterize the two periods most important stewardships of the Jew (Israel) and the Christian (Church). The ethnic divisions of the Scripture is in (1 Cor. 10:32) "The Jew The Gentile and The Church." "For the Law was given by Moss, but grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ."

The Key word to all the inspired writing's from Exodus 20:1 to Malachi 4:6 is law. The key word from all the inspired narratives of the crucifixion in the gospels to the end of Revelation is Grace. The four Gospels have an intermediate character.

What is the Law? An expression of the mind of God - His righteous standards that must be fulfilled by His creatures, or the offender must be punished. The law is not the basis for justification, but for condemnation for sin! (Rom. 7:12 ;15; 1 Tim. 1:8-10; Gal. 3:11-12)

To whom the Law was given (Exodus 19:20; Deut. 5:1,6; Mark 12:29; Rom. 2:14; Gal. 3:25; Rom. 7:4-6.
That does not mean there was no law before Moses, or that there was no grace before Jesus Christ. Not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was LAW. And God grace was shown to His sinning creatures by the covering of Adam and Eve. But The Bible never confuses the two (Law and Grace). But God never confuses the two, and it is the law (of condemnation) that Grace nullifies! The born again believer does not sin willfully because he thinks he is under grace, but has a new nature, but by the weakness of the flesh, when a man may sin, we have an advocate (Jesus Christ) An eternal high priest in the heavens. And for Christ to be your advocate, You must be born again.
 

TokiEl

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It's hard to obey the commandments of God without the Holy spirit within.
 

Todd

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Law and Grace are not contrasting. They are complimentary. Without Grace we are not capable of following the law. When we walk in grace it empowers us to live according to God's perfect guidance and instruction. Grace is what writes God's law on our heart.

The law without grace leads to legalism and failed outward actions of keeping the law. When grace and the law is combined and written on the heart, our motives and the issues of our heart are exposed. The when our heart is exposed, we learn the reason's why we trangress God's law and it empowers us to repent and turn to God to change to our hearts. This is what Jesus was speaking about when he said if you have hatred in your heart for your brother than you have broken the command thou shall not murder even if you haven't actaully carried out the physical action of murder. Same as lusting after a woman with your eyes. You may have not physically commited adultery, but in God's eyes you have commited adultery in your heart.

In the OT, the israelites did not understand grace and only attempted to follow God's law from an outward action aspect. They failed to recognize the fallen condition of the heart and without understanding grace they were unable to turn to God and let him change their hearts.

David was one of the few in the OT that understood grace and that is why he was called a man after God's own heart. Though David failed often, he had a contrite heart. When everyone around him encouraged him and told him he had every right to kill Saul and take his rightful place as the king, David allowed God to expose what was really in his heart. Because of grace, David was able to resist the temptation to kill Saul in the cave when he had the chance and instead repented for the issues of his heart.
 
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Law and Grace are not contrasting. They are complimentary. Without Grace we are not capable of following the law. When we walk in grace it empowers us to live according to God's perfect guidance and instruction. Grace is what writes God's law on our heart.

The law without grace leads to legalism and failed outward actions of keeping the law. When grace and the law is combined and written on the heart, our motives and the issues of our heart are exposed. The when our heart is exposed, we learn the reason's why we trangress God's law and it empowers us to repent and turn to God to change to our hearts. This is what Jesus was speaking about when he said if you have hatred in your heart for your brother than you have broken the command thou shall not murder even if you haven't actaully carried out the physical action of murder. Same as lusting after a woman with your eyes. You may have not physically commited adultery, but in God's eyes you have commited adultery in your heart.

In the OT, the israelites did not understand grace and only attempted to follow God's law from an outward action aspect. They failed to recognize the fallen condition of the heart and without understanding grace they were unable to turn to God and let him change their hearts.

David was one of the few in the OT that understood grace and that is why he was called a man after God's own heart. Though David failed often, he had a contrite heart. When everyone around him encouraged him and told him he had every right to kill Saul and take his rightful place as the king, David allowed God to expose what was really in his heart. Because of grace, David was able to resist the temptation to kill Saul in the cave when he had the chance and instead repented for the issues of his heart.
You must be born again.
 

Red Sky at Morning

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An open question then...

When people refer to "keeping the law" what do you mean? The Ten Commandments and / or the Levitical law? Let's be clear here ...
 

Dalit

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Law and Grace are not contrasting. They are complimentary. Without Grace we are not capable of following the law. When we walk in grace it empowers us to live according to God's perfect guidance and instruction. Grace is what writes God's law on our heart.
This is it! I wish I could explain this to others. It's not one or the other. It's not Old Testament vs. New Testament. It's the whole Bible, One unified Testament. If Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, if God is God and He changes not, why do most Christians throw out the Old Testament in favor of the New? No, it's all One book!

That's the one good thing I gleaned from the Hebrew Roots movement. I'm keeping that. Getting reprimanded for showing my calves, I'll toss. My dress was modest even if I wasn't completely covered from neck to knees. My knees were visible. :)

I like how Brad Scott says it:
Rules (Torah) w/o Relationship (Grace) = Rebellion
Relationship (Grace) w/o Rules (Torah) = Lawlessness and Confusion

This appears in the natural order with children and parents. My parents were a little more rules than relationship so I was good and fearful until 22 and then I quietly rebelled. Yet sometimes they went more relationship or tried to be my buddy and that was confusing. It's almost like they didn't know which way to be.

See why balance is needed? It's complementary. We need God's law written on our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26) and we need His grace in His beloved Son Jesus. It's hard not to go to one side or the other. It's how we've all been taught. We all tend to lean more toward one or the other.
 

lovesoul

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This is it! I wish I could explain this to others. It's not one or the other. It's not Old Testament vs. New Testament. It's the whole Bible, One unified Testament. If Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, if God is God and He changes not, why do most Christians throw out the Old Testament in favor of the New? No, it's all One book!

That's the one good thing I gleaned from the Hebrew Roots movement. I'm keeping that. Getting reprimanded for showing my calves, I'll toss. My dress was modest even if I wasn't completely covered from neck to knees. My knees were visible. :)

I like how Brad Scott says it:
Rules (Torah) w/o Relationship (Grace) = Rebellion
Relationship (Grace) w/o Rules (Torah) = Lawlessness and Confusion

This appears in the natural order with children and parents. My parents were a little more rules than relationship so I was good and fearful until 22 and then I quietly rebelled. Yet sometimes they went more relationship or tried to be my buddy and that was confusing. It's almost like they didn't know which way to be.

See why balance is needed? It's complementary. We need God's law written on our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26) and we need His grace in His beloved Son Jesus. It's hard not to go to one side or the other. It's how we've all been taught. We all tend to lean more toward one or the other.
Serious question and not trying to sound negative... I thought Yeshua made things simpler (for better lack or words) rule wise? For instance, whatever you put into you body isnt what defiles you but what comes out of your heart. Whereas in the OT, there are clean and unclean food rules. I'm a mother and sometimes I struggle with stuff like this. In the end, I usually stop worrying about it and just rest in what Yesua said. But I do feel your right... balance of Law and Grace is best. Thank you for sharing about your parents. They sound like they do try, God bless them. But, you know they needed more balance so it's a good reminder for me. :) I do know that while now we can eat pork, we choose not to because it's bad for your health. So there are somethings that just make sense that we follow from the OT, even though we don't really have to.
 

Dalit

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Serious question and not trying to sound negative... I thought Yeshua made things simpler (for better lack or words) rule wise? For instance, whatever you put into you body isnt what defiles you but what comes out of your heart. Whereas in the OT, there are clean and unclean food rules. I'm a mother and sometimes I struggle with stuff like this. In the end, I usually stop worrying about it and just rest in what Yesua said. But I do feel your right... balance of Law and Grace is best. Thank you for sharing about your parents. They sound like they do try, God bless them. But, you know they needed more balance so it's a good reminder for me. :) I do know that while now we can eat pork, we choose not to because it's bad for your health. So there are somethings that just make sense that we follow from the OT, even though we don't really have to.
Yes, the food rules are a bit twisted anyway since rabbis would say to never eat a cheeseburger or any meat with cheese and that's a misinterpretation of Exodus 23:19. If you eat pork, I can't judge because until 14 months ago, so did I. I never really liked anything other than bacon and sausage. Turkey bacon and turkey sausage is better for my body and fits my diet better, so I eat that now. Can't eat shellfish anyway without risk of anaphylactic shock.

It's best to rest in Yeshua. :)
 
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An open question then...

When people refer to "keeping the law" what do you mean? The Ten Commandments and / or the Levitical law? Let's be clear here ...
The Levitical laws were types, social and health Laws, ethical and relationships for Israel. All the types are fulfilled in Christ. InThe Church The dissertation is of The Ten Commandments (Law of Moses) That condemns (Rom. 7:7-25)
 
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I have watched too much Ray Comfort. So to some degree I have been programmed to see law as it relates to the need for a savior. According to Paul in the bible the law is our tutor to bring us to Christ. The thing about the law of Moses, is that it brought with it prohibition. While grace through Christ leads to spiritual freedom in the Holy Spirit. Some people might try and set aside the law at that point. According to John we love God if we follow His commandments.
 

Red Sky at Morning

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Perhaps Matthew 22 speaks to this thread most clearly?

. 35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Perhaps when Christians talk about returning to the Law, these two commandments, which are not about prohibition but love, are the key?

It is only really through being born again and being indwelt with the Holy Spirit that we have that love within us to enable us to keep these greatest of commandments.

I suspect that in keeping these two, we end up keeping the ten as a consequence?
 
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Perhaps Matthew 22 speaks to this thread most clearly?

. 35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Perhaps when Christians talk about returning to the Law, these two commandments, which are not about prohibition but love, are the key?

It is only really through being born again and being indwelt with the Holy Spirit that we have that love within us to enable us to keep these greatest of commandments.

I suspect that in keeping these two, we end up keeping the ten as a consequence?
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:8-10

Loving God and man is the end result of the law.
 

DavidSon

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An open question then...

When people refer to "keeping the law" what do you mean? The Ten Commandments and / or the Levitical law? Let's be clear here ...
That's the thing many forget about the discussion: no one today, including Jews, follows exactly the laws of Moses.
 

TokiEl

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Perhaps Matthew 22 speaks to this thread most clearly?

. 35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Perhaps when Christians talk about returning to the Law, these two commandments, which are not about prohibition but love, are the key?

It is only really through being born again and being indwelt with the Holy Spirit that we have that love within us to enable us to keep these greatest of commandments.

I suspect that in keeping these two, we end up keeping the ten as a consequence?
Exactly !


Matthew 19 16Just then, a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?

17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied, “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18“Which ones?” the man asked.

Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, 19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”

20“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”

21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”


This young man was very rich and when challenged by Jesus to give away his riches and follow Him... he chose not to depart from his great wealth which gave him a secure and comfortable life. And that is understandable... but hopefully this young man continued to keep the commandments and help poor people in his community. If so for sure he would obtain eternal life !

And if he fell into temptation and broke a commandment... he could repent and be forgiven... because repentance works ! because of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

I don't care who you are and what you've done... if you truly repent ... you truly are forgiven !
 
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Red Sky at Morning

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Question: "Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler he could be saved by obeying the commandments?"

Answer:
To understand Jesus’ response to the rich young ruler’s question—“What must I do to be saved?”—we must consider three things: the background of the rich young ruler, the purpose of his question, and the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The young man had asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). Jesus responded, “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments” (verse 19). At first glance, it appears that Jesus is saying that the young man and, by extension, all people must obey the commandments in order to be saved. But is that really what He was saying? Since the essence of the salvation message is that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), why would Jesus offer the rich young ruler an “alternative plan”?

The story of the rich young ruler is found in all three of the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew 19:16–23, Mark 10:17–22, and Luke 18:18–23. The man is described as a “ruler,” which means he was a prince or magistrate of some sort. Since no Roman ruler would address Jesus as “teacher” or “master,” it is assumed that this man was a Jewish ruler in the local synagogue. This man also had “great wealth” (Matthew 19:22), and Jesus later used His conversation with this man to teach the detrimental effect money can have on one’s desire for eternal life (verses 23–24). The lesson Jesus draws from this incident concerns money, not salvation by works.

The first thing Jesus says to the man’s greeting, “Good teacher,” is to remind him that no one is good except God (Matthew 19:17). Jesus was not denying His own divinity. Rather, Jesus was immediately getting the man to think about what “good” really means—since only God is good, then what we normally call human goodness might be something else entirely This truth comes into play later in the conversation. When the man asked Jesus to specify which commandments he should keep, Jesus recited six of the commandments, including “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:19). The man replies, “All these I have kept. . . . What do I still lack?” (verse 20), and that is a key statement. The young man was obviously religious and sincere in his pursuit of righteousness. His problem was that he considered himself to be faultless concerning the Law. And this is the point that Jesus challenges.

Jesus tells the man, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). The young man decided that Jesus was asking too much. “He went away sad, because he had great wealth” (verse 22). Rather than obey Jesus’ instructions, he turned his back on the Lord and walked away. The man’s choice undoubtedly saddened Jesus as well, because Jesus loved him (Mark 10:21).

In telling the young man to keep the commandments, Jesus was not saying that he could be saved by obeying the commandments; rather, Jesus was emphasizing the Law as God’s perfect standard. If you can keep the Law perfectly, then you can escape sin’s penalty—but that’s a big if. When the man responded that he met the Law’s standard, Jesus simply touched on one issue that proved the man did not measure up to God’s holiness. The man was not willing to follow the Lord, if that meant he must give up his wealth. Thus, the man was breaking the two greatest commands; he did not love his neighbor as himself, and he did not love the Lord with all his heart. He loved himself (and his money) more. Far from keeping “all” the commandments, as he had claimed, the man was a sinner like everyone else. The Law proved it.

If the man had loved God and other people more than he did his property, he would have been willing to give up his wealth to the service of God and man. But that was not the case. He had made an idol of his wealth, and he loved it more than God. With surgical precision, Jesus exposes the greed in the man’s heart—greed the man did not even suspect he had. Jesus’ statement that only God is good (Matthew 19:18) is proved in the young man’s response to Jesus’ command.

In His conversation with the rich young ruler, Christ did not teach that we are saved by the works of the Law. The Bible’s message is that salvation is by grace through faith (Romans 3:20, 28; 4:6; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:9; 2 Timothy 1:9). Rather, Jesus used the man’s love of money to show how the man fell short of God’s holy standard—as do we all. The rich young ruler needed the Savior, and so do we.

https://www.gotquestions.org/rich-young-ruler.html
 

TokiEl

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Question: "Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler he could be saved by obeying the commandments?"

Answer: To understand Jesus’ response to the rich young ruler’s question—“What must I do to be saved?”—we must consider three things: the background of the rich young ruler, the purpose of his question, and the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The young man had asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). Jesus responded, “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments” (verse 19). At first glance, it appears that Jesus is saying that the young man and, by extension, all people must obey the commandments in order to be saved. But is that really what He was saying?
Yes Jesus was confirming that one must obey the commandments in order to obtain eternal life !



Since the essence of the salvation message is that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), why would Jesus offer the rich young ruler an “alternative plan”?
Grace through faith... means that because of God's grace we have faith in Jesus Christ and obey His commandments because we love Him.
 

TokiEl

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Too many modern Christians have been deceived into thinking that one does not need to obey the Ten Commandments written by God's own fiery finger on two stone tablets kept in the Ark of the Covenant upon which mercy seat Jesus own Blood covered and atoned for those who broke and break the Ten Commandments.

If you have broken a Commandment or more... you have made a mistake ! You need to repent !

That is all God ask of you !

Man up and admit your sin and say you're sorry !
 

Todd

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Serious question and not trying to sound negative... I thought Yeshua made things simpler (for better lack or words) rule wise? For instance, whatever you put into you body isnt what defiles you but what comes out of your heart. Whereas in the OT, there are clean and unclean food rules. I'm a mother and sometimes I struggle with stuff like this. In the end, I usually stop worrying about it and just rest in what Yesua said. But I do feel your right... balance of Law and Grace is best. Thank you for sharing about your parents. They sound like they do try, God bless them. But, you know they needed more balance so it's a good reminder for me. :) I do know that while now we can eat pork, we choose not to because it's bad for your health. So there are somethings that just make sense that we follow from the OT, even though we don't really have to.
An open question then...

When people refer to "keeping the law" what do you mean? The Ten Commandments and / or the Levitical law? Let's be clear here ...
All the commandments that apply to us as Gentiles/sojourners. Since the proper biblical nation of Israel does not exist, the civil laws are not applicable (yet if we can take general principles from them and apply them to our lives personally we should). Since Christ fulfilled the temple sacrifices once and for all and no temple exists, the ceremonial temples laws do not apply. Again if we can learn things about Christ and his sacrifice from studying them, we should not ignore them.

That leaves the moral laws, the laws that tell us how to treat and interact with our neighbors, and guidance and instruction for our individual households. Dietary laws are not a matter of spiritual cleanliness but guidance and instruction for healthy living. So yes, Jesus statement about what you eat does not defile you (spiritually) applies. However I contend none of us can go to God with complaints about our health if we are not following his guidance and instruction concerning dietary or hygiene issues. Again it's not about legalistic outward conformance to God's guidance and instruction, but understanding the purpose and intent of the guidance and instruction and applying it to our lives. Giving up pork to legalistically conform to the OT dietary laws while still consuming large amounts of processed foods and refined sugar is probably a waste of time. However I would agree that anyone trying to implement a healthy diet would be wise to listen to God and constrict the amount of pork and shellfish they consume.
 
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According to John we love God if we follow His commandments.
And what are those commandments? (John 15:11-14) (1 John 2:3-11) His commandment is love...not law! (1 John 2:26-27, No man teacheth you for Christ is in us and we in Christ...You must be born of God 1 John 4:11-14. You would do well to seek and ask for the Spirit of Christ instead of leaning on your own understanding) There is no law in love and Truth.
 

TokiEl

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And what are those commandments? (John 15:11-14) (1 John 2:3-11) His commandment is love...not law! (1 John 2:26-27, No man teacheth you for Christ is in us and we in Christ...You must be born of God 1 John 4:11-14. You would do well to seek and ask for the Spirit of Christ instead of leaning on your own understanding) There is no law in love and Truth.
Do you obey the Ten Commandments ?
 
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