NOT UNDER LAW
by Cecil Argetsinger
NOT GENERALLY TAUGHT, but of tremendous importance is the truth set
forth in these six simple words: "Not under law, but under grace."
They speak not only about two completely different and opposing systems by which God relates to His people here on earth, but they also speak of two separate and distinct periods of history. The "law" represents the manner of God’s dealings with the nation of Israel, while "grace" depicts the nature of His relations with the Church, the Body of Christ.
The one, law, began with the covenant made between God and Israel on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:3-8) about 1500 years before Christ appeared on the scene. It ended with the death of Christ on the cross, for it was there He "blotted out the handwriting of ordinances [the law] that was against us, and took it [the law] out of the way, nailing it to His cross" (Colossians 2:14). The other, grace, began (generally speaking) with the same death and will continue until the Church is taken out of this world (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). In the Scriptures, the word "law" has two significations. Particularly, It has reference to the commandments and ordinances given by God through Moses to the nation Israel (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 32:47). but it also includes any system or rule that regulates human conduct and by the keeping of which is supposed to make men right in the sight of God. Basically, the law is a works or merit system. It represents the efforts and good deeds of men by which they seek to please God and make themselves acceptable to Him.
Grace, however, is in principle exactly the opposite of law, Grace represents not what man must do in order for a right standing before God, but rather asserts that God, entirely apart from any good deeds or works that man might do, freely accomplishes the same. Grace declares that righteousness with God is given, not earned.
That "law" and "grace" are opposing principles is easily demonstrated. The law principle says "If you do good, I will bless you." That this was the nature of God’s relationship with Israel is clearly expressed in the covenant he made with that nation on Mt. Sinai.
"Now therefore IF you will obey My voice, and keep My covenant, THEN you shall be a special treasure to me above all (other) people; for all the earth is mine" (Exodus 19:5).
"If you will obey" is the prerequisite for "then you shall be a special treasure."
How different is the principle of grace: "I have blessed you, now do good." Pure grace represents the manner by which God is dealing with the believer of this present age, the one who has heard the message of the Cross and has placed his faith and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. For him, his blessings are all of grace and only by grace. Under grace, blessings are never earned nor deserved. Good works have no part or place in the bestowal of God’s blessings--instead they are freely given. Under grace, the motive for right living arises out of gratitude and love for the One who suffered so much in the believer’s behalf.
The law proved to be an "administration of condemnation." It did not and could not make people righteous before God. It could only prove their total sinfulness. The law could not bring men to God, it only proved them guilty before God (Romans 3:19-20). It takes imputed righteousness, the gift of grace, to make one right in God’s sight (Romans 8:1-2;3:24).
But there doesn’t need to be any mistake. Being "under grace" provides no license to sin; grace rather prohibits sin.
"For the grace of God that brings salvation to all men has appeared [on the scene], teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)
Indeed, the conduct that is set before the one who is "not under law but under grace" is a high and holy walk that is in keeping with his heavenly calling and position in Christ. "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, " writes Paul, "beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling to which you have been called" (Ephesians 4:1). In our own strength, such a walk is absolutely and completely beyond any Christian to accomplish. We may no longer be "dead in sins" (Ephesians 2:1), but we are not under law--that is, not under its demands for righteousness. But as far as attaining righteousness in our own strength, we cannot, for we are spiritually unable.
However, not only does grace forbid sin by the believer, as Romans 6:15 declares. It also frees him from the power of sin.
"For sin shall not have dominion [exercise lordship] over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
And the believer under grace has something never given under law. That something is, in all reality, Someone--namely the indwelling person and presence of God, the Holy Spirit.
Nowhere in Scripture is it taught that the believer has attained to sinless perfection. The Christian life is a struggle, fierce and constant, not just against Satan and his forces, but against the evil and awful sin nature that is still present in every believer. This nature will only be removed when we are "forever with the Lord." But victory is assured because. under grace, the Holy Spirit has come to indwell every believer and to abide there as long as we are on this earth.
The Christian may temporarily give in to sin, but the dominion of sin over the Christian is broken. The believer may, for a time, allow his sin nature to govern his activities, but, unlike the unbeliever, he is not controlled by it. Once we were sinners and walked according to the dictates of Satan, but now all is changed. We are new creations in Christ and have the privilege of living a life of righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sin may be in us, but is no longer our master, for we are "not under law, but under grace."
They speak not only about two completely different and opposing systems by which God relates to His people here on earth, but they also speak of two separate and distinct periods of history. The "law" represents the manner of God’s dealings with the nation of Israel, while "grace" depicts the nature of His relations with the Church, the Body of Christ.
The one, law, began with the covenant made between God and Israel on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:3-8) about 1500 years before Christ appeared on the scene. It ended with the death of Christ on the cross, for it was there He "blotted out the handwriting of ordinances [the law] that was against us, and took it [the law] out of the way, nailing it to His cross" (Colossians 2:14). The other, grace, began (generally speaking) with the same death and will continue until the Church is taken out of this world (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). In the Scriptures, the word "law" has two significations. Particularly, It has reference to the commandments and ordinances given by God through Moses to the nation Israel (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 32:47). but it also includes any system or rule that regulates human conduct and by the keeping of which is supposed to make men right in the sight of God. Basically, the law is a works or merit system. It represents the efforts and good deeds of men by which they seek to please God and make themselves acceptable to Him.
Grace, however, is in principle exactly the opposite of law, Grace represents not what man must do in order for a right standing before God, but rather asserts that God, entirely apart from any good deeds or works that man might do, freely accomplishes the same. Grace declares that righteousness with God is given, not earned.
That "law" and "grace" are opposing principles is easily demonstrated. The law principle says "If you do good, I will bless you." That this was the nature of God’s relationship with Israel is clearly expressed in the covenant he made with that nation on Mt. Sinai.
"Now therefore IF you will obey My voice, and keep My covenant, THEN you shall be a special treasure to me above all (other) people; for all the earth is mine" (Exodus 19:5).
"If you will obey" is the prerequisite for "then you shall be a special treasure."
How different is the principle of grace: "I have blessed you, now do good." Pure grace represents the manner by which God is dealing with the believer of this present age, the one who has heard the message of the Cross and has placed his faith and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. For him, his blessings are all of grace and only by grace. Under grace, blessings are never earned nor deserved. Good works have no part or place in the bestowal of God’s blessings--instead they are freely given. Under grace, the motive for right living arises out of gratitude and love for the One who suffered so much in the believer’s behalf.
The law proved to be an "administration of condemnation." It did not and could not make people righteous before God. It could only prove their total sinfulness. The law could not bring men to God, it only proved them guilty before God (Romans 3:19-20). It takes imputed righteousness, the gift of grace, to make one right in God’s sight (Romans 8:1-2;3:24).
But there doesn’t need to be any mistake. Being "under grace" provides no license to sin; grace rather prohibits sin.
"For the grace of God that brings salvation to all men has appeared [on the scene], teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)
Indeed, the conduct that is set before the one who is "not under law but under grace" is a high and holy walk that is in keeping with his heavenly calling and position in Christ. "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, " writes Paul, "beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling to which you have been called" (Ephesians 4:1). In our own strength, such a walk is absolutely and completely beyond any Christian to accomplish. We may no longer be "dead in sins" (Ephesians 2:1), but we are not under law--that is, not under its demands for righteousness. But as far as attaining righteousness in our own strength, we cannot, for we are spiritually unable.
However, not only does grace forbid sin by the believer, as Romans 6:15 declares. It also frees him from the power of sin.
"For sin shall not have dominion [exercise lordship] over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
And the believer under grace has something never given under law. That something is, in all reality, Someone--namely the indwelling person and presence of God, the Holy Spirit.
Nowhere in Scripture is it taught that the believer has attained to sinless perfection. The Christian life is a struggle, fierce and constant, not just against Satan and his forces, but against the evil and awful sin nature that is still present in every believer. This nature will only be removed when we are "forever with the Lord." But victory is assured because. under grace, the Holy Spirit has come to indwell every believer and to abide there as long as we are on this earth.
The Christian may temporarily give in to sin, but the dominion of sin over the Christian is broken. The believer may, for a time, allow his sin nature to govern his activities, but, unlike the unbeliever, he is not controlled by it. Once we were sinners and walked according to the dictates of Satan, but now all is changed. We are new creations in Christ and have the privilege of living a life of righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sin may be in us, but is no longer our master, for we are "not under law, but under grace."
Dispensational Chart
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
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Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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