Ep. 15 - Law vs Grace
Episode Description
Does the law play any role in making a believer holy? What changes when a Christian fully lives under grace instead of the law? Few questions cause more confusion in Christianity than these — and few are more urgent to answer rightly. Many would say they are saved by keeping the law. Many believers still treat the law as their daily power source. But what does Scripture actually say?
In this episode, Pastor Josh examines law and grace as two ministrations and two operating systems. The law is holy, just, and good — Romans 7 will not let us say otherwise. But the law cannot justify the sinner, because it demands the flesh to perform what the flesh cannot do. And the law cannot sanctify the believer, because it functions as the strength of sin rather than the source of righteousness. Pastor Josh walks through Romans 3, Romans 6, Romans 7, 1 Corinthians 15, and 2 Corinthians 3, distinguishes the ministration of death from the ministration of the Spirit, and lands where the Apostle Paul lands — beholding the glory of the Lord, and being changed from glory to glory by the Spirit. The law shows us what we cannot do. Grace gives us what we could never earn.
Key Scriptures
Romans 3:19–22 — By the Law Is the Knowledge of Sin
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 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. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.
Romans 3:24 — Justified Freely by His Grace
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 5:20 — Where Sin Abounded, Grace Did Much More Abound
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
Romans 6:14 — Not Under the Law, but Under Grace
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 7:5–7 — The Motions of Sins Which Were by the Law
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 8:3 — What the Law Could Not Do
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.
1 Corinthians 15:55–56 — The Strength of Sin Is the Law
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
Galatians 3:24 — The Law as Schoolmaster
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
2 Corinthians 3:7–9 — Two Ministrations
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
2 Corinthians 3:17–18 — Changed from Glory to Glory
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
James 2:10 — Guilty of All
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Galatians 5:1 — Stand Fast in the Liberty
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Episode Outline
The Opening Questions — Does the law make a believer holy? What changes under grace?
Why So Much Confusion — The widespread misunderstanding of the law
The Law Is Holy, Just, and Good — Romans 7 will not let us say otherwise
The Three Parts of the Law — Moral, ceremonial, and civil
The Law Exposes Sin — Romans 3 and the knowledge of sin
The Strength of Sin — 1 Corinthians 15 and how the law arms sin against us
The Law Cannot Justify — No flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law
The Law Cannot Sanctify — Romans 7 and 8 on the weakness of the flesh
Two Ministrations — Death and condemnation, or Spirit and righteousness (2 Corinthians 3)
Grace Gives What the Law Could Only Show — The righteousness of God without the law
Under Grace, Not Under the Law — Romans 6:14 as the believer’s position
Two Operating Systems — Law and flesh, or grace and the Spirit
Stand Fast in the Liberty — Don’t go back to the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5)
Behold and Be Changed — From glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Questions Discussed
Does the law play any role in making a believer holy?
What changes when a Christian fully lives under grace instead of the law?
If the law is wholly just and good, why is it called the ministration of death?
Why is the law called the strength of sin?
How can the law be holy, just, and good — and yet no one be justified by it?
What is the difference between the ministration of death and the ministration of the Spirit?
Are you a believer who thinks the way to please God is by living under the law?
What does it mean to behold the glory of the Lord and be changed from glory to glory?
