Law and Grace - the two Covenants

UNDER LAW, you try to obey the Ten Commandments, preach, fast, sow seeds, help the needy and do the right thing by human effort because the law says to do so in order to enjoy God's blessings and avoid punishment. You give, give and give but because you are doing righteous things by your own strength (walking in the flesh,) all of your righteousnesses are like filthy rags according to Isaiah 64.6.

Perfect obedience is required to avoid the curse of the law (Deut. 28:15) and enjoy the blessing (Deut. 28:1.) But all have sinned. James 2:10 says "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws." All of our law-keeping and good works amount to nothing. Romans 3:20 says- "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."

Under law, even when you do right, the result is death because the letter kills. Under law, sin has dominion over you so sin is an increasing factor here. Try to keep the law and sin will multiply.

UNDER GRACE, Christ has fulfilled the law on your behalf. He took your curse and suffering and died the death that you should die for your inability to fulfill the requirements of the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39.) Because of His sacrifice for you and His gift of righteousness to you (Romans 5:17,) you get to enjoy every blessing of God in His word and to "produce a harvest of good deeds for God." (Romans 7:4.)

Christ in no way came to diminish the law. His death magnifies the law- only the sinless blood of the Lamb of God can fulfill its righteous requirements. Yet we try by our puny efforts! Under grace, you get to live in triumph over sin and death (Romans 5:17.) Sin shall not have dominion over you, "For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace." You will not continue to sin and not by your own effort. Your path is like the morning sun that shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day!

Under grace, you GET TO preach the gospel, help the needy, in short, you do the Spirit thing to do by the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in you. Nothing to do with your own effort. You are led by the Spirit. You take, take and take from Christ and He is constantly filling you to overflowing with His righteousness and with every blessing, so much so that the overflow of His blessings in your life cannot but spill over for others to enjoy. You can't help but be a blessing to others even if you tried! 

No struggling to do good or fear of punishment here. You DESIRE to do His will "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." Philippians 2:13.

The unforced rhythms of grace!

Jesus healed on the Sabbath. The law prohibits this. Jesus paid temple tax. The law demands this. Had the woman with the issue of blood kept the law and not mingled with the crowd in her unclean state, she would have never touched the robe of Christ. The law says "stone her to death." Jesus calls her action faith! Under grace, the lawful thing to do is not always the Spirit thing to do. But the Spirit will NEVER lead you astray. The effect of law-keeping to get right with God is being cut off from Christ says Gal. 5:4.

The letter kills but the Spirit gives life. By God's grace, choose life. Today, we have the same choice that Adam and Eve did: The Tree of Life (Christ Himself) or The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that brings Death (a picture of the law that gives the knowledge of good and evil and kills, even if you eat only the good part.) It all depends on the word you are feeding on- the Law that was given through Moses or Grace and Truth that came through Jesus Christ.

See Deuteronomy 30:19- “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"

The letter kills but the Spirit gives life. CHOOSE LIFE.