Law, Religion and Grace – Part Two
Law,Religion and Grace- Part Two
The writings of Barth are erudite and scholarly,
however essential and tend to be unclear at times as
one of our readers commented recently.
In the interest of clarity it is helpful to be brief and concise:
We know that the Law is just, holy and good.
But because of the Fall humans are afflicted with
the sinful nature from which they can only escape
by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
We would not have known what sin is apart from the Law.
The Law states that it is a sin to covet.
The natural person unaware of the Law would not
know this.
Sin is the transgression of the Law and the wages of
sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus came to give us life and more abundantly.
He has set us free from the law of sin and death by
His death on the Cross to pay our sin debt.
As He is risen we also rise from baptism in newness
of life in the Holy Spirit.
St. Paul says that we are now dead as far as the
Law is concerned. ( Romans 7.4).
As we are discharged from the Law we now serve
not under the code of the written regulations,
but of the Spirit in newness of Life.
The letter of the Law kills, but Spirit gives Life
eternal through our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
As St. Paul expresses his delight we also announce that
Jesus Christ has delivered us from the shackles
of this body of death.
O thank God! through Jesus Christ our Lord! So indeed I,
of myself with the mind and heart serve the Law of God,
but with the flesh the law of sin.
There is therefore no condemnation for those who
are now in Christ Jesus, for those who live and walk
not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates
of the Spirit.
(Romans 7.24 & 25 also 8. 1).
Jesus stated that those who trust in Him are not judged.
(John 3.18).
St. Paul adds: ” For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus
has freed me from the Law of sin and death.
For God has done what the Law could not do, (its power)
being weakened by the flesh.
(the entire human nature without the Holy Spirit).
Sending His own Son in the form of sinful flesh and as
an offering for sin, God has condemned sin in the flesh
(subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who
accept His sacrifice).
(Romans 8. 2&3).
HALLELUJAH! THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOREVERMORE!