Not under the law – Only grace – Really?

Deutsch

The believing Christian lives not under the law, but under grace. This statement is indeed found in the Bible. Unfortunately, however, this phrase is often misused to justify supposedly abolished laws. It thus conveys a quasi-carryover under grace—a “permissible lawlessness.” In fact, there is much more to it than that.

“No Law – Only Mercy”

The law of God is invalid, Jesus abolished all of this with His death on the cross, according to a widespread standard thesis. Among the most frequently quoted statements in the Bible on this topic is the phrase, “We are no longer under the law, but under grace“.

This makes it clear. The law no longer exists, nor does it punish, because sin is forgiven across the board, for the past, the present, and the future. Only the “law of love” counts, consisting of “love God” and “love your neighbor,” and that’s it.

At this point, one inevitably wondered how such proclaimers about abolished laws of God deal with other, equally isolated, but completely contradictory statements. These contradictions include, in particular, Paul’s statements, such as in Romans 3:31:
“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.“

Discrepancy or misunderstanding?

What now? On the one hand, the believer is not subject to the law, but on the other hand, he establishes the law through faith? Establishing the law for unbelievers, but not applying the law to oneself, or what? This clearly shows that the simple and convenient abolition of God’s laws cannot be entirely right.

To prevent attentive readers from giving this a second thought, Paul’s writings have come under particular fire. While some claim that there are massive contradictions, which means that the Bible is fundamentally doubtful, others attribute to Paul a theology that contradicts that of Jesus Christ. Questions are now being raised (out of control) as to whether one should follow Jesus or Paul, as if their teachings were in opposition.

Yet it was Jesus Christ himself who intercepted Paul, at that time still called Saul, on his way to Damascus and convinced him outright that his persecution of the early Christians was equivalent to his personal persecution of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4). The Pharisee Saul became the faithful follower of Jesus, Paul.

One must only be aware of the consequence that Paul’s temptations concern a total of 14 letters of the New Testament. Thirteen letters are directly marked with Paul as the sender. The Epistle to the Hebrews is also attributed to him, even though many “scribes” doubted this. But this is in the nature of things; the main thing is to sow doubt, since the Epistle to the Hebrews primarily describes the equally neglected doctrine of the Heavenly Sanctuary and the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. (Info). A field of activity that the self-proclaimed “representative on earth,” the papacy, has assigned to itself.

Believers are addressed

An important question was who Paul was actually addressing in his letters. He was essentially writing to the churches, that is, believers. Those who have recognized Jesus Christ for who He truly is: the Son of God, the living Word of God, who came into this world as a human being (John 1:1-3; 14). The church members Paul wrote to largely recognized the message of Jesus and knew what the path to salvation actually looks like. Paul did rebuke in some letters, but these are particularly valuable to study because the errors and misunderstandings are explicitly described, as are the necessary corrections.

Given the development of the church in Rome, whose progressive syncretism with Roman paganism ultimately culminated in what is still called the Roman Catholic Church today, Paul’s Epistle to the Romans stands out. It is quite striking that the letter to the church in Rome focuses on those aspects that primarily describe the papacy that still exists today. This concerns, above all, the Law of God, which the Church of Rome quickly abolished through idiosyncratic adaptations. The prophet Daniel already foresaw this., Daniel 7:25:

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.“

Resolution of the alleged conflict

“We no longer live under the law” and “we are establishing the law” seem to be completely out of step with each other. Given the efforts made to discourage people from investigating this issue more closely, let alone understanding the underlying truth, it’s all the more worthwhile to examine this discrepancy more closely.

A significant hint is found in Romans 6:14-15
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.“

What is sin? Sin is the transgression of God’s law (commandments). Clearly defined in 1 John 3:4:
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.“

This is exactly what Paul describes in Romans 7:7:
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.“

Simple logic is that if God’s laws were abolished, there would be no sin at all. But sin still exists, and in abundance. Abolishing laws would render the gospel a classic paradox. (Info). Another simple logic would be that with abolished laws and “everlasting grace,” every person could do whatever they wanted, without any consequences. “Murder, rob, steal, commit adultery, or follow other gods” would be completely irrelevant, because where there is no law, there is no sin.

There’s more to it

The passage Romans 6:1-4 also shows that there must be much more to the term “not under law, but grace”:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.“

“Dead to sin” already describes very well that it is not about the abolition of sin due to abolished laws, but rather about the refraining from sins that still exist. But since the law still exists (see not only Matthew 5:17, but also verse 18!), how could one no longer be under it?

Led by the flesh or by the spirit?

The big difference lies in what guides one’s thoughts and actions. Is it the desires of one’s own fallen flesh, or is it the desire of the Spirit, specifically the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Paul is clear in his letter to the church in Galatia. Galatians 5:16-18:
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.“

The term “born-again Christian” also applies here. One who died with Jesus Christ on the cross and also rose with Him, but as a new person. A person who is not led by their own flesh, but by the Holy Spirit. It is (actually) self-evident that a person led by the Holy Spirit will not commit sin in the first place, since they recognize sin as such, abhor it, and do not want to commit it at all.

Works of the flesh and the spirit

Paul becomes clear about the visibility of true faith and true motivation. He describes the deeds of “the flesh” and the consequences they entail, Galatians 5:19-21:
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.“

Paul also shows the contrast when man is led by the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,“

“No longer living under the law” is therefore only fulfilled when a person is truly led by the Holy Spirit and has therefore turned away from sin. In other words, someone who is enlivened by the Spirit of God never comes into conflict with the law. Rather, this person lives by the grace of Jesus Christ, who has forgiven past sins (and future transgressions) after confession and repentance.

Paul “rounds off” his statement on the carnal and the spiritual with:
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Galatians 5:24)

Actually, this is the exact opposite of what the apologists proclaim about “laws abolished by the cross.” It’s not God’s commandments that were nailed to the cross, but rather every (true) believer will nail his carnal, sinful nature to the cross.

Lawfulness is NOT works righteousness

The claim that one is “legalistic” and attempts to achieve “righteousness by works” because one keeps God’s laws (commandments) is misleading. Paul, too, knew the inability of the laws to derive righteousness from them, Galatians 3:21:
“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.“

Ultimately, man recognizes what sin actually is through God’s laws. Once a person has disregarded or transgressed the law, it’s essentially too late; it’s over, done with; it’s happened. Then it doesn’t help even if one immediately follows the law with utmost precision. Righteousness was lost at the very first sin. From now on, man is dependent on the grace of Jesus Christ “for better or for worse.” According to the Old Testament, the ceremonial laws served this purpose, all of which symbolized the work of Jesus. (Info).

Others even speak of “sin” when attempting to keep God’s commandments. One immediately notices how the adversary roars around like a roaring lion, intent on devouring as many people as possible. See also the striking statement in Revelation 12:17:
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.“

Who does the dragon, the symbol of the great adversary, persecute? Not the ungodly, not the sinners, not the lawless, but those who keep God’s commandments! This is not the vast majority, but, as clearly described in this verse, the “remnant of her seed.” That is, a certain remnant.

Guided by the Holy Spirit leads to lawfulness

The thesis “no law, only grace” is fatally false. Those who are led by the Holy Spirit (automatically) keep God’s commandments. It’s that simple. If a person claims to be born again, but their deeds (works) testify to something completely different (“you will know them by their fruits”), then something is rotten in the “state of Denmark.” The Apostle John has important things to say about this, 1 John 1:6:
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:”
1 John 2:4:
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.“

Jesus Christ himself summed it up with a short and concise sentence, John 14:15:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.“

To feel love for one’s neighbor, to raise one’s hands to heaven and cry out “Jesus” with a loud voice, but not to be led by the Holy Spirit and not to turn one’s back on sin (“overcoming”), is a fatal self-deception. This is what is taught in the “evangelical mainstream.” After all, one no longer lives “under the law, but under grace.”

An analogy to law and grace

A driver drives at 100 kilometers per hour through a children’s street where only walking speed is permitted. This is also the law. The driver is promptly caught and brought to court. The judge recognizes the extremely strained financial situation of the driver, who is the sole breadwinner in a household with four children. The judge pardons the speeder. No fine or prison sentence.

Now the driver can leave the court without punishment and is also permitted to continue driving. He has been pardoned. Free and therefore “living under grace.”

Does this mean that the law restricting speed to 5 km/h in a play street has been repealed?
Is the driver now exempt from the law and is he legally allowed to race through the play street at 100 km/h?

None of this is true! Rather, and this is understandable, drivers will be especially careful not to break the law in the future. However, what the “love-and-be-under-grace” mainstream is saying corresponds exactly to this fool’s license of the driver, who from now on can press the accelerator to the floor without consequences. Because they “live under grace and no longer under the law.” At this point, at the very latest, one should realize what a nonsensical conclusion this would be.

The rude awakening would certainly

Those who interpret “mere grace, no law” as a fool’s liberty will be the ones who have “great prospects” of hearing the following viewpoint from Jesus Christ on the “situation”, Matthew 7:21-23:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.“

“You lawless ones!” Other Bible editions write “wicked ones.” The Greek word “anomia” means “those who practice lawlessness.”
Does that sound like “abolished laws and ONLY grace”?

“No law, only grace” is arbitrary

Let the Holy Spirit guide you, and you will no longer want to sin. No longer committing sin automatically means keeping the law; it’s simply the logical consequence. The grace of Jesus Christ consists primarily in freeing people FROM sin through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There is absolutely no salvation IN sin, for this is “the practice of lawlessness.” That is the core message, including that of Paul. And that is why he is so massively attacked.

The claim of abolished laws is also the insinuation that God is arbitrary and therefore unjust, and a liar. This is precisely the vocabulary of the great adversary. However, God does not change; His law is holy and unchanging, and God is also eternally just. (Info). If there were no longer any law after Jesus’ death and resurrection, this would be profoundly unjust to all people who lived “at the wrong time in the wrong place,” that is, before Jesus’s human ministry in our world. The blunt thesis “no law, only grace” therefore makes absolutely no sense.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)