Under Grace

[JoeMo]

Recently, one of the most active topics on this forum has been "Under Law" While it was quite an interesting discussion, IMHO we who are believers in Christ are no longer "Under Law"; but "Under Grace".

"For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then?" (Romas 6:14)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

"You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." (Gal. 5:3-6)

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romas 5:6-8)

These and many other verses in scripture point to the fact that God and His Son love us so much, that to prove that love, Jesus offered to die for us to undo the work of the devil.

"The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work." (1 John 3:8)

Many Christians believe that Jesus had to come to earth so His Father could kill Him so we could see just how evil sin is and how evil we are.  God sent not His Son to condemn the world but to save it.  Jesus was here to show us who God is.  He is the express image of the Father.  How was Jesus when He was here?  He was full of love and compassion - forgiving and healing all who came to Him; casting out demons; raising the dead.  Does this sound like a vindictive God who is telling us to "obey or else"?  If He is telling us that, we are all doomed - none of us has or is able to live up to the Law.  We must have a Savior.  We must live under His Law of love and grace or we are doomed to live with the consequences of living under the Law of condemnation.

"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!" (2 Cor. 3:7-11)

What do you think it means to live "Under Grace"?

[8thdaypriest]

It means that Jesus has power to reverse the effects of "the law of sin and death" - on me. 

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." (Romans 8:2 NAS)

Because of what Christ did, He has won dominion over the earth and everyone on it.  The Son of God now has authority to heal human beings, taking them from Satan's domination.  The Father has poured His Spirit into and through His Son, into those who seek this healing, life-restoring relationship. 

[JoeMo]

12 minutes ago, 8thdaypriest said:

It means that Jesus has power to reverse the effects of "the law of sin and death" - on me

Exactly!  And He will do so one day soon!