Under the Law and Under Grace
By T. Godfrey
FOR sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Rom. 6:14, 15. It is evident that the above scripture does not apply to the unregenerated soul, but must have its application in those who have been reconciled to God through the blood of the everlasting covenant, and the washing of regeneration; as we see from a careful reading of the context, in connection with the text, which says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Rom. 6:12-15. Before sin entered into the world, man was in perfect harmony with the law of God, the law witnessing to his righteous character; but as soon as he disobeyed God, he was brought under the law, under the dominion of sin, under the sentence of death, the law testifying to his guilt. For he had transgressed the law that demanded the life of the transgressor. The Word of God says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Eze. 18:4, 20. “For the wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23. Therefore the law speaks to those who are under the law, under the dominion of sin, under the sentence of death. Says the apostle Paul, “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. By the act of disobedience, Adam brought sin and death upon the whole human family. Therefore the whole family came under the dominion of sin, under the sentence of death. The Word of God says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12. Now the transgression of the law is sin. The apostle John says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. After the fall of man, man could not save himself. He could not earn eternal life by works. The law could not be abrogated, nor the sentence annulled. So to save a fallen world from sin and death, and to uphold the honor and integrity of His throne, God sent His Son into the world to die for a fallen race. Jesus says, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Says the apostle Paul: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law [subject to death], to redeem them that5were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Gal. 4:4-7. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Gal. 3:13, 14. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do [could not pardon the sinner], in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Rom. 8:1-4. “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Rom. 3:31.