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Law vs Grace

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AN ENVIRONMENT OF GRACE

“For sin will have no dominion over you because you are not under law but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14)

As the law arouses our sinful nature, so our righteous nature is aroused by grace. It is only in an environment of grace that our righteous nature can function and thrive. If someone believes that they are the righteousness of God yet is still trying to be made perfect

through spiritual laws and disciplines, then they will continually struggle under the power of sin.

Romans 5:17 puts it perfectly: “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

Through Adam’s sin, death began its reign over mankind. Through Jesus Christ, we receive the free gift of righteousness and an abundance of grace (the atmosphere conducive for our righteousness) so that we may now reign in life!

It is not intuitive, but the most righteous, holy behavior will only manifest in an environment of abundant grace. In grace, we must allow people to be who God says they are (righteous) and hold them accountable to their new righteous nature. The moment we define righteous living through a list of do’s and don’ts, we empower sin. This is why 1 Corinthians 15:56 says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”

The power of sin lies within the demands of the law. In Christ, God has removed the demands of the law upon our lives. He has established us in grace and given us access, freedom, and power through the Holy Spirit to live righteously before Him. When we start demanding (law) what the gospel freely promises, we undermine the very power of God to transform an individual. The Church is so accustomed to directing, controlling, and modifying sinful behaviors that we have lost sight of what the gospel truly accomplishes. The gospel is the power of God to save people! If people are still being afflicted by sin, sickness, and disease, then we must go back to the gospel.

NO ONE WILL EXPERIENCE FREEDOM FROM SIN BY IDENTIFYING WITH THEIR SINFUL NATURE.

If we find ourselves constantly trying to help people who are struggling in sin but do not immediately direct them to the power of the gospel, we will find ourselves fighting a battle we cannot win that exhausts everyone involved. My friend calls it “Christian necromancy.” Necromancy is defined as a method of divination through communication with the dead. We bring our old sinful nature from the grave to counsel it, talk to it, manage it, and encourage it to not sin again. No one will experience freedom from sin by identifying with their sinful nature. We must learn to accept and receive the gift of righteousness and perfect nature that God has given us by the Holy Spirit. Listen to these words from Paul:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (Gal. 2:20-21)

Paul considered that he himself died with Christ and that the life he lived in the flesh was no longer his own. He lived that life by faith in the Son of God.

Our life and our new identity is found only in Christ. As Christians, we must learn to help each other understand and embrace our God-given righteousness, our new nature. If we can help people see that through the gospel the old sinful nature has been crucified at the cross, then their minds will be renewed by the Holy Spirit, empowering them to put on the new nature that was created in God’s own likeness. Once a believer starts to renew their mind as to who they have become in Christ, they will effortlessly manifest the righteousness of God, and old sin habits and struggles will die.