THE LAW, FAITH, GRACE and SALVATION

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS

• An attempt has been made to arrange the concepts under this topic in a logical order. Revise it as necessary, to improve it!
  
  
• This is just an "overview"; other verses can be found.
  
  
• In some contexts, the meaning of the word "law" may be limited to a specific aspect of the law, such as the "ceremonial law," or the "moral law." Examine the context, if there is any question. (Examining context is always good, anyway!)
  
  
• In several instances, a major section pertaining to the law is immediately followed by a corresponding (or "complementary") section pertaining to faith. It would be instructive to compare these parallel sections.

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PART 1
 

A. THE LAW (etc.) and GOD'S PROMISE OF SALVATION / LIFE

1. Opposing/Contrasting Principle: The Works Required by the Law, Contrasted with Faith - Galatians 3:12
   
   
2. Relies on Total Compliance, Yet None Have Totally Complied
   • Total Compliance - Matthew 19:17b [But see previous part of verse: "There is only One who is good" - that is, God.]; Galatians 5:3
     
   • None Meet the Requirements -  Matthew 19:17a; Romans 3:9-19
      
3. The Law Is Powerless to Save, but Leads Us to One Who Can
   • Even "Natural Law" Condemns - Romans 2:14-15
     
   • None Are Justified/Declared Righteous - Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:15-16; Galatians 3:11
     
   • Righteousness Cannot Come by Means of Works - Romans 9:30-33
     
   • Though the Law Intended to Bring Life, it Became Unable to Accomplish its Purpose - Romans 7:10; Romans 8:3
     
   • The "Best" That the Law Can Do is to Provide Ceremonial "Outward Cleansing" - Hebrews 9:13
     
   • Though the Law Itself Cannot Save Us, it Can Lead Us to Christ, Who Can - Galatians 3:24
      
4. The Law's Relationship to God's Promises and Salvation Blessings
   • The Law Cannot Be the Means of Obtaining the Promise Given to Abraham and His Offspring - Romans 4:13
     
   • The Law Cannot Be the Means of Obtaining the Spirit, Etc. - Galatians 3:2-5
     
   • There Is No Conflict Between the Law and a Salvation Based on God's Promise, Because God's Promise Deals with Something That the Law Is Powerless to Deal with - Galatians 3:21
     
   • The Law Cannot Nullify God's Promise - Galatians 3:17-18 ["God in His GRACE..."  - Otherwise, as previously seen, none of us could have gained it!]
      
5. Consequences if Salvation Had Been Possible Through the Law
   • We Could Boast about Our Own Accomplishments - Romans 3:27 (Implied); Philippians 3:9
     
   • Christ's Death Would Have Been for Nothing - Galatians 2:21
     
   • In Reality, God's Promise of Salvation Would Be Worthless, since None of Us Are Able to Fulfil the Law's Requirements - Romans 4:13-15a [See "Law and Consequences,"  PART 3, below.]
      

B. FAITH (etc.) and GOD'S PROMISE OF SALVATION / LIFE

1. Opposing/Contrasting Principles
   • Faith Contrasted to Works (Which Are Required by the Law) - Galatians 3:12
     
   • Grace and Truth Contrasted to Law - John 1:16-17
      
2. Relies on Christ's Total Compliance to the Law's Requirements and His Acceptance of Our Judgment upon Himself
   • His Obedience... - Romans 5:19
     
   • His Substitution, His Death for Us... - Romans 5:8-11; Romans 8:3; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 9:15b
      
3. Salvation Comes by Faith in What Jesus Did - by God's Grace
   • Accepting/Following the Message God Commanded Jesus to Speak - John 12:44-46,49-50
     
   • The Result of Faith/Believing What God Has Said/Done - Acts 13:38-39; Romans 3:28-30; Romans 4:13-16; Romans 9:30; Galatians 2:15-16; Galatians 3:11
     
   • This Is Made Possible Because of Our Union with Jesus Christ in His Death/Life [And this fact is to have an effect on the way we live] - Romans 6:8-13; Romans 8:3-4; Galatians 2:19-20; Philippians 3:8b-9
     
   • This Is All by the Undeserved Grace of God - Romans 4:16; Romans 5:21; Ephesians 2:8a
     
   • In this Matter, the Law Has No Value - Galatians 5:6
      
4. This Is All Done in Accordance with God's Promises
   • Promises Made to Abraham and His Offspring... - Romans 4:13, 16; Galatians 3:6-9; Galatians 3:14; Galatians 3:18; Galatians 3:22
     
   • The New Covenant Promise.. - Hebrews 9:15
      
5. Consequences of Salvation by Faith
   • No Boasting, Since it Comes from God (Not from Self) - Romans 3:27; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:9b
     
   • The Grace of God Is Not "Set Aside" - Galatians 2:21

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PART 2
 

A. THE LAW (etc.) and SIN

1. Law Added Because of Transgressions (Until Christ Would Come) - Galatians 3:19
   
   
2. Law Causes Awareness of Sin - Romans 3:20b; Romans 7:7+
   
   
3. Law Gives Sin Power to Grow/Increase/Enslave/Be Aroused - Romans 5:20 [However, grace increases even more.]; Romans 6:14,16-17 [Implied]; Romans 7:5; Romans 7:8
   
   
4. Law Gives Sin Power to Kill
   • Before the Commandment Came, I Was Alive... - Romans 7:8b-9
     
   • Sin Used the Law/Commandment to Kill - Romans 7:9; Romans 7:11; 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
      

B. FAITH (etc.) and SIN

1. Sin and Transgression Are Gone - Romans 4:15b; Romans 5:20-6:2  [Romans 7:8 - See Previous Section.]
   
   
2. Freedom from Sin; under a New Master - Romans 6:14-18
   
   
3. Misc. - Christ Does Not Promote Sin - Galatians 2:17 [See context.]

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PART 3
 

A. THE LAW (etc.) and ITS CONSEQUENCES [WITH THE PRESENCE OF SIN]

1. Condemnation and Imprisonment - Galatians 3:23; Galatians 4:24-25 [See context for the allegory.]; James 2:8-9 [An illustration of condemnation/conviction.]
   
   
2. Death, Wrath, Curse; Used by Sin to Accomplish These Things - Romans 4:15a; Romans 7:10; Romans 7:13; Galatians 3:10 [...And nobody continually obeys in everything...]
    

B. FAITH (etc.) and ITS CONSEQUENCES

1. Receiving of the Promises/Blessings of Salvation, Etc.
   • We Eagerly Wait for Our Coming Righteousness - Galatians 5:5
     
   • Receiving the Spirit (and the Power the Spirit Provides) - Galatians 3:2-5; Galatians 3:14
     
   • A Cleansed Conscience - Hebrews 9:14
      
2. Freed from the Curse/Condemnation/Death - Romans 8:1-2
   
   
3. Able to Live in a Righteous Manner: as a "Free Slave" -  Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:13-14; Hebrews 9:14
   
   
4. [See also: "Living According to the Law (Etc.)," PART 4, below.]

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PART 4
 

A. FAITH (etc.) and THE LAW (etc.)

1. No Longer under the Law/Its Supervision - 1 Corinthians 9:20; Galatians 3:24-25
   
   
2. This Does Not Mean That We Live an "Unrestrained" Life. [See also: "Living According to the Law (Etc.)," below.] - 1 Corinthians 9:21
   
   
3. Dead to the Law/Able to Live for God - Romans 7:4-6; Galatians 2:19-20
   
   
4. Under a New Covenant - 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 4:26 [See context for the allegory.]; Hebrews 9:15
   
   
5. Misc. Contrasts
   • Contrasting Ministries - 2 Corinthians 3:7-9
     
   • Contrasting Results for Rejecting it - Hebrews 10:26-31
      

B. THE GOODNESS OF THE LAW (etc.)

1. A Summarized Description of the Law: "Love" - Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8
   
   
2. The Goodness of the Law, Etc.
   • Holy, Righteous, Good, Spiritual - Romans 7:12,14a,16b
     
   • Perfect, Giving Freedom - James 1:25; James 2:12
     
   • The Law Is Not Sin or Death (Though Sin Uses the Law to Kill...) - Romans 7:7-13
      

C. LIVING ACCORDING TO THE LAW (etc.)

1. The Ability to Uphold it (In Christ)
   • Law Has No Value in Gaining Righteousness, but Genuine Faith Will "Express Itself" - Galatians 5:6 [See Above, "A Summarized Description of the Law: 'Love'," in previous section]
     
   • We Uphold the Law/Delight in it - Romans 3:31; Romans 7:21-25
      
2. The Necessity of Upholding it
   • We Are Called for this Purpose - Galatians 5:13-14
     
   • If We Don't Do So, Our Faith Is Worthless and Dead - James 1:22-27; James 2:12-14
     
   • "The Saints" (Genuine Christians) Are Described as Obeying God's Commands - Revelation 14:12

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Dennis Hinks © 1994
041109