How can we tell if we are living under law or under grace? There are two important characteristics that distinguish between legalism and grace-living.
1) The Law is a conditional contract; Grace is not.
Under the law obedience is conditional to blessing.
God says, "If you do good, I will bless you.
" Under grace blessing is based entirely on what God has done for us through Christ.
God says, "I have blessed you, now do good" (Eph.
1:3).
Obedience is our response to blessing.
An example of this is that under the law God said to Israel, "If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" Ex.
19:5&6.
Under grace He says to us, "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people...
" 1 Pet.
2:9.
Law always begins with obligation which is conditional to blessing.
Grace begins with unconditional blessing, evoking a response of obedience.
The Bible uses the term "the law" (with the definite article) in reference to the law God gave through Moses.
But when it uses the term "law" (without the definite article) it designates any legalistic system of works we may employ in order to gain merit with God.
This includes God's law, our vows, promises, resolutions, bargaining, goals, dedication, rededication, commitment, recommitment, determination, etc.
It's amazing what we will do sometimes in an attempt to impress God and qualify for His blessing! Like the couple who removed the swing from their budgie's cage on the Sabbath - just in case the budgie enjoyed himself! 2) Law And Grace appeal to a different power base for holiness.
Law appeals to our fleshly ability; grace relies on divine enablement.
Law is attractive because it has high moral aspirations.
But can the law really help us to change? Can it help us beat sin? Can it help us to live the Christian life? The giving of the law to Israel did not result in an obedient people.
Apart from Jesus there has been universal failure in keeping the law.
According to Paul the law does not lead people away from sin but rather inflames sin in them (Rom.
7:8).
Spiritually, you and I are married to the one we go to in order to bear fruit.
You can tell those living under law - they are married to the law.
This means they go the law in order to bring forth fruit.
Legalism pulls away from Christ and puts us back under the power of the flesh.
Also, legalism is deceptive.
Rom.
7:11.
Sin deceived Paul (took him in) to believe that the law could help him achieve his moral and spiritual goals.
Sin deceives us by leading us to expect one thing, while we experience another.
We expect life, but experience death.
We expect to be fruitful, but we end up barren.
Rom.
7:18-23.
Even New Testament instruction, if attempted in the power of the flesh, will become legalistic and result in failure.
The characteristics of people living under the law are self-confidence, pride, criticism and a reluctance to admit failure.
The law is like someone who tells us what to do but doesn't lift a finger to help.
The Pharisees were like this.
"They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
" Matt.
23:4.
They did not lift the burden of guilt, but increased it.
Legalistic people are the same.
They are good at reminding us what we should be and do, and consequently make us feel guilty about our failures.
Under grace we are married to Christ.
We abide in Christ in order to bear fruit.
Rom.
7:1-4.
Rom.
8:2-4.
Grace draws upon the omnipotence of God and is characterized by that beautiful word "able" (see Rom.
8:38-39; Rom.
14:4; Eph.
3:20; 2 Tim.
1:12; Heb.
2:18; 7:25; Jude 24.
) Grace is God's ability in the place of our inability.
It is not about what you are able to do, but what God is able to do through you.
In Christ we do not have a law, but life, divine life.
In contrast to the law working from the outside, the indwelling presence of Christ works from within.
"This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD; I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" Heb.
8:10.
If the law is a picture of the glory of God, then Christ in me is the hope of glory, i.
e.
He is my only hope of being transformed into His likeness.
As He dwells in me then His law will be written on my heart.
As I abide in Him I will be changed into His image.
2 Cor.
3:17&18.
If you want me to change, don't talk to me about the law, talk to me about Jesus.
Teach me how to abide in Him.