The Story of God’s Explosive Grace

How is it that God set up the Law to follow in the Old Testament and you Paul say that the Law is now gone? How can we be free from following the 613 laws that our fathers labored to perform for over a thousands years? Paul’s answer, because someone died.

What is the Law to which Paul refers?

Law = 78 times Doing that which was prescribed in the Old Testament as the basis for earning salvation Grace = 21 times Approaching God empty handed in regards to salvation and depending on the finished work of Christ at Calvary to satisfy our holy God’s demand for righteousness.

In Romans, with so many usages of the term “Law,” which one does Paul use when he is making reference to salvation not being from the works of the Law? (Romans 3.28) Answer: Paul never defines exactly one meaning of the term. Rather, he compiles any aspect of the Old Testament legal system into a singular meaning which one might keep in order to attain salvation.

Paul uses the term Law in Romans to identify any part or the totality of God’s rules for His people in the Old Testament whereby one would attempt to keep in order to attain or achieve salvation or rightness with God.

What were the major aspects of religious life under the Law for the Jew?

Circumcision is no longer a requirement in the New Covenant. In Acts 15, the apostles and elders determined that circumcision, along with the other ceremonial laws, were not mandatory for the Christian. In fact Paul states… 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Galatians 5

Exodus

Justification Insofar as justification is concerned, we are not under the Ten Commandments to acquire our salvation. Sanctification However we are to obey God’s moral laws as it relates to our sanctification. Nine of the commandments are repeated in the New Testament. Only the Sabbath law is excluded.

In Leviticus 23 seven major religious holidays are outlined for the Jewish nation

The book of Leviticus provides instructions for the five different sacrificial offerings: 1. Burnt 2. Grain 3. Peace 4. Sin 5. Trespass

What happen that changed the Old Testament from being “under the Law” to the New Testament being “under grace?”

Meaning of “shadow” in the New Testament… A shadow provides an imperfect picture, a hint, a rough outline of the real thing. Much of the Old Covenant system gave a blurred picture of the coming perfect New Covenant that Jesus made possible by His sacrificial death at Calvary and resurrection.

A Major Misconception Clarified Regarding Salvation

So were you saved in the Old Testament by keeping the Law and saved in the New Testament through faith? Answer: No! Salvation has always been through faith. God’s requirements for living out one’s faith did change from the Old Testament and is much different in the New Testament.

Romans How Christians were made dead to the Old Testament Law.

In verses 1-4, Paul equates the demands of life under the Law as being a married woman and under her husband’s authority. Here are Paul’s points: 1. There is a parallel between the husband and the Law and the woman and a Christian. 2. If the husband dies she is free. 3. She is not free if the husband is alive. 4. The believer (wife) also died when united in Christ, and is freed from the Law’s demands.

19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” Galatians 2

Paul reverts back to our B.C. days and points out the impact that the Law had on our sin nature (flesh). 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. Romans 7 The point is this, if a person sees a sign that says, “Do not throw stones at window,” the flesh is aroused to do that very thing.

With all the negative talk about the Law, by guilt of association, one might make the assumption that the Law is sin. This would be nuts as Paul explains. 7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” The OT Law defined what sin is and isn’t.

In this section, Paul reveals the theological history of death by Law. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

1. “I” is best taken as Adam the first human and representative of the human race. 2. “I once was alive” is understood best to be taken as “I was living.” 3. Then came the command, “You shall not eat or touch it” referring to one particular fruit. 4. By eating it, Adam and future generations died spiritually. 5. God’s boundary proved disastrous due to disobedience. 6. Sin in conjunction with the commandment deceived and killed us all.

Paul now returns to the issue of whether the Law in its essence is really sin. The answer is No! 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.