UNDER THE LAW; UNDER GRACE.
By W. H. Falconer
The first step will be to seek a proper understanding of the terms “under the law” and “under grace.” The Standard Dictionary defines the word “grace” as, “The unmerited love and favor of God in Christ, especially as shown in the salvation freely provided for mankind. . . . 3. A state of reconciliation to God, of deliverance from the dominating power of sin. . . . English law: a free pardon, as to a body of culprits, by act of Parliament.” Will the Bible sustain these definitions? and if so, what will be the bearing on the subject under study? (1) The grace of God brings salvation to all men. Titus 2:11, margin; (2) “by grace are ye saved through faith.” Eph. 2:8. So grace is shown to be that which saves men, and this grace of salvation reaches us through the vehicle of faith. This shows grace to be equivalent to the gospel. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. 1:16. Now what does grace save men from? “Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21. Sin is defined to be the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4. And in Rom. 3:23 we learn that all men have sinned; that is, transgressed the law. So we find that grace saves men from their transgressions of the law of God, and the man thus saved is said to be under grace. Now when the grace of God saves a man, it does not leave him in his sins, but saves him from them; that is, it not only brings him pardon for past sins (Rom. 3:25), but saves him from the dominating power of sin; “for sin shall not have dominion over you: for . . . ye are under grace.” Rom. 6:14. So it becomes plain that no man is under grace who is dominated, or ruled, by sin; that is, lives in open, habitual transgression of God’s law. And as grace saves only those who believe, it follows that the unbelieving and disobedient cannot possibly be said to be under grace, but they must be the very opposite, under condemnation. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Rom. 3:19. “For all have sinned,” transgressed the law. Verse 23. So every man who is living in sin, which is disobedience to the law, is proved to be guilty before God, and under the condemnation of the law. Now if any one in this condition wishes to be saved, he must confess his sin, and through faith in Christ obtain grace, or the pardon of all his sins, and also cleansing from all unrighteousness, and so be freed from the dominion of sin, and restored to obedience, and then fulfill the righteousness of the law through the power of the Spirit of God. 1 John 1:9; Rom. 8:4. He is now no longer under the law, but is under grace. “What then? shall we sin [transgress the law], because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Rom. 6:15. And so we say to all our misguided friends, “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die?” Eze. 18:30, 31.