There is a simple difference between walking under the law and walking by grace.
Grace purposes in the heart. The law does not.
Law
The law purposes to control your behavior. It forces you to perform or not perform some action.
The focus is solely on behavior, which makes the requirement superficial. The law cannot go deeper to change your heart or mind. The law cannot save a soul. The law cannot remove sin.
The saying goes, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight…” – Romans 3:20
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh…” – Romans 8:3
Grace
Grace purposes in the heart. Grace communicates the finished work of Christ and preaches belief in it.
The requirement of grace received is faith. Faith is not a behavior that can be forced. Immediately upon belief grace confronts the inner man with a changed purpose.
Grace (the work of Christ on our behalf) saves souls. It changes hearts and minds toward God. Grace removes sin.
The focus under grace is not your behavior, but your belief. It is not initially your doing, it is your doctrine. It is not your work, but the work of Christ in you.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” – Galatians 2:20
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart…” – 2 Cor 9:7
Walking Under Grace
Walking under grace is righteous in that it removes the superficial requirements of the law which could not change a person anyway.
Grace changes a person, and then works on the premise that a changed person with a purpose in their heart will act differently.
A man who purposes in his will without law will do what he purposes even still.
A man who purposes in his will without law will do what he purposes even still.
This is grace in action. Grace purposes in your heart. Grace gives knowledge to change the inner man (Rom 6:6).
“God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” – Romans 6:17
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him…” – Colossians 2:6
The Struggle
What if behavior does not change? For all of us in some area it will not change.
The struggle under the law was how to perform against your will. The question was “why should I?” Why should you, if you did not want to.
Grace gives the reason why. Grace purposes in the heart. Grace acts upon your will through faith.
What is needed is not an application of the law to force behavior. What is needed is an application of grace to the heart.
The struggle under grace is faith and patience. Too many want to trust what they see, and they want to see it now.
When grace is applied to the heart, then Christ works in us.
Grace provides forgiveness.
Grace provides patience.
Grace provides the love of God freely.
Grace provides patience.
Grace provides the love of God freely.
Grace needs be taught.
Grace needs to be remembered.
Grace needs to be given.
Grace needs to be remembered.
Grace needs to be given.
When you start giving grace, you will see that your behavior has changed, and that without the law.
Be patient.
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 2:1
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Article IndexPublished: January 20, 2018
Last Modified: January 20, 2018
Article IndexPublished: January 20, 2018
Last Modified: January 20, 2018
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