La Ley Y La Gracia

  • Pat Bowen
  • 10 January 2010

The law exposed sin. Jesus fulfilled the law and forgave sin.

All things are lawful for me, but not everything is beneficial. I Cor. 6:12, I Cor. 10:23-24

The church has written a lot of laws through the years. The law puts under bondage – grace sets us free.

Paul was a man of the law, but his live changing experience with Jesus changed his perspective. His righteousness didn’t come from the law, but through faith in Christ. Phil. 3:4-11

Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 10: 16-17, Psalm 40: 8

I will write my law in their hearts. The law is no longer external, it is internal.

When Jesus fulfilled the law and died for our sins, He changed the commandments from a list of don’ts to a new commandment. “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and mind and soul, and love thy neighbor as thyself”. Matthew 22: 34-40

A new commandment – “you shall love one another”. John 13:34 How do we love one another? By imposing our idea of the law on them? Or by showing the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

We can’t make laws to change people’s lives. We don’t know where they have been. When we see something wrong in some else’s life we need to examine our own lives. Sometimes the faults we hate in others’ lives are the very faults we have in ourselves. God wants us to deal with those things in our own lives before we can begin judging others. Matthew 7:1-5

Only God can convict of sin. We are changed through the washing of the Word. It is the Word of God that changes us. We are changed by the grace and mercy of love of the Lord, not by judgment by others, not by the law. The law never changed anyone, but the Lord changes everyone. We are no longer under the law, but are under grace. Galatians 5: 18, Rom. 6:14-15, Romans 5:20-21. The law of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. Life in Jesus changes our perspective of the law. II Corinthians 3:6 The letter kills, but the spirit gives life. Romans 8:1-4

Grace is not permission to sin. It is a way to turn from sin. The law says “don’t”, Christ says “Live in me and be set free”. The law brings condemnation. Christ brings conviction and forgiveness.

Paul said…the things I should do I don’t do. The things I shouldn’t do I do. Who will set me free from this struggle with sin? Praise God, Jesus can set us all free. Romans 7:14-Romans 8:4

As we turn aside to spend time with the Lord he makes an adjustment in our lives. We begin to see that the law is written in our hearts and we will want to do that which pleases God. We will no longer struggle with the “do’s and don’ts”, but will begin to walk in the Spirit and be led by Him.

Noah was recognized by God as a perfect man. Not perfect in character, but in a life that showed a true faith in God. Paul said, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ”

I Corinthians 11:1. What is the example of Christ?...love, grace, mercy, long suffering, etc.

As we begin to walk in grace and in obedience to Christ we will be examples to others, not condemning through the law, but changing lives through the mercy and love that Christ has shown is and that we can show to others. Ephesians 5:1-2, Colossians’ 3:12-17

We are no longer under the law, but are under grace. Let us love one another as Christ has loved us…with Grace and Mercy.