Law and Grace II

The Letter of the Law versus the Spirit of the Law 

1. The Law is only one small part of God’s Grace - Grace is the big plan while law is only one component of the larger plan.   

Fulfilling the Spirit of the law in three steps: 

i. The person who trusts in Jesus and receives His grace is fulfilling the law (letter & spirit), since we now depend on His obedience and approval 

Matthew 5:17 (NIV)

     "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 

Galatians 2:16 (NLT)

     …And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” 

Galatians 2:16 (GW)

     Yet, we know that people don’t receive God’s approval because of their own efforts to live according to a set of standards, but only by believing in Jesus Christ. So we also believed in Jesus Christ in order to receive God’s approval because of faith in Christ and not because of our own efforts. People won’t receive God’s approval because of their own efforts to live according to a set of standards. 

ii. The spirit of the law is fulfilled when grace produces an obedience which flows out of an inside-out trust (faith) and love 

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

     For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age… 

Romans 5:17 (NIV)

     For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 

iii. The spirit of the law is fulfilled when we love God and others with a love that is produced by God’s transforming grace 

1 John 4:7 (NIV)

     …for love comes from God. 

Romans 13:8-10 (NLT)

    Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. ⁹ For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. 

Galatians 5:14 (NIV)

     The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

     So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 

2. The law is a last resort in most cases – so turn to grace as a first response! 

Psalm 62:7 (NIV)

     My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 

3. Turning to Grace instead of law gives us power over sin as well as strength to overcome in the midst of sin 

Romans 5:20 (NKJV)