Under Law or Under Grace?

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Introduction: It is not just unthinkable that a believer would continue in the same lifestyle of sin that characterized him before salvation. It is impossible. *It is impossible because of His union with Christ. (vs.1-14) *And now this morning we see it is impossible because of His relationship to grace. He says in verse 14 that sin will not have dominion over you because you are not under law but under grace. *This of course raises another objection. If you tell people that they are no longer under law, but under grace doesn’t that lead to a lifestyle of sin? It sounds like the same question as verse 1. At its core it really is. Unbelief is stubborn. It keeps returning under different questions and from different angles, and so the apostle is careful to answer each one. THE BELIEVER’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAW Before we get into the answer to the objection, let’s get a handle on the reality that verse 14 speaks of. What does he mean when he says we are not under law but under grace? THE BELIEVER IS NOT UNDER LAW Martin Lloyd-Jones saw a broad understanding of law in this case. Listen to what he said: “What does this mean? We must first look at the term ‘law’. What does it mean in this particular context? I am very ready to agree with the vast majority of commentators who say that it not only means the Mosaic Law but also law in general, law as a principle. Previously in chapter 2, the Apostle had said that, in a sense, a man who is not a Christian is ‘under law’. The Gentiles who had never heard the law of Moses were under law, for they were a law unto themselves. There was a law in their hearts, and it was because of that that they were able to ‘accuse or else excuse one another’ (2:14-15). In other words, the whole of mankind is under law.” Under law, then, would INCLUDE the law of Moses, but as a principle, would refer to any attempt at reaching God through one’s own efforts. By one’s own righteousness. We must remember that this comes to us in the context of Paul’s entire argument which began in chapter 1. In the first three chapters, Paul makes the point that the entire human race stands guilty before God. In chapter one, he makes the point that the Gentile world stands guilty before God, even without the law of God. How? Because the Gentile becomes a law unto himself. ESV Romans 2:12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Pagans are still accountable before God because of general revelation, and the human capacity to instinctively understand what that means, and to be accountable for what that means. ESV Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Then in chapter two, Paul tells the Jew that he is in no better position because he has God’s written law in his possession. In fact, it makes him even more accountable. BUT WHAT CHARACTERIZES THE UNREGERNATE, BOTH JEW AND GENTILE, IS SEEK A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ON THE BASIS OF LAW KEEPING.

Topics

• Grace