Meet Law and Need Grace!

Matthew 5:17-20 continued...

In Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus says the Law will never pass away so we know it has a very important function(s) for our world today. Paul helps us understand one of the important eternal functions of the Law in Galatians 3:24, "The Law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith." So let's consider a few things together in light of these words...

When we share our faith with someone we should remember to take the person to the Law of God before leading them to the grace of Christ. A person must be convinced he or she is a sinner in need of grace and forgiveness if they are to ever place faith in Jesus for these blessings. To simply tell someone they will receive love, joy and peace if they place faith in Jesus does not produce right motivation for receiving Christ as Savior. A non-Christian must understand they are an enemy of God in need of forgiveness and reconciliation with Him if they are to truly become a part of God's family and enjoy the love, joy and peace found in that family. A person who does not know Christ must understand sin produces a great wall of separation between themselves and God which must be dealt with if they are to have relationship with Him.

In Romans 3:19 Paul tells us the Law serves to silence the whole world so each of us may be held accountable to God for our life. If we did not have the Law to help us see our life for what it is (sinful apart from Christ no matter how good we try to behave) we would be condemned to believe our good works were enough to earn right relationship with God! Praise God for the Law!

When we share our faith with others it is a wonderful thing to talk about God's great love, grace and forgiveness but we must make sure our friend without Christ has met the Law of God before elaborating on these subjects. Only someone who has met the Law of God can cease defending their life on the basis of their good works and what they consider "right living." Only someone who has ceased defending his or her life can receive God's grace through Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 there will always be a an important place for the Law and the role of schoolmaster is one such place! Only a person who has met God's Law can realize the futility of their attempts to be reconciled to God by anything other than the Cross of Christ.

More on Law and grace tomorrow...

James