Romans Bible Study [Law Vs Grace]

The book of Romans is rich in doctrine, we can never exhaust it. I want to discuss some parts of it and hopefully give you an idea of the difference between living under the law and living under the grace of God. In today’s bible study, I want us to do an in-depth look at the law and the grace of God. What was the function of the law and what does grace do in place of the law?

Where sin increases grace increases more

But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased all the more.

Romans 5:20 AMP

Because of the law, sin increased. Not because the law was sinful, or sin wasn’t present but now the conscious awareness of sin was suddenly there. Man couldn’t see his sinfulness apart from the law. But something else happens, where sin increased the grace of God increased all the more. I love this, God knowing the inability of man to uphold the law and overcome sin on his own, releases grace so we can overcome sin.

First the law, then salvation

Why, then, the Law [what was its purpose]? It was added [after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt] because of transgressions [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin], and [the Law] was ordained through angels and delivered to Israel by the hand of a mediator [Moses, the mediator between God and Israel, to be in effect] until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. Galatians 3:19 AMP

The law is given until the seed comes. God’s intention for the law was to lead man to a place of consciousness of sin and reveal to us our need for a Savior. It is easy to receive the gift o salvation if we know we really need it. But when we are unaware of our sinfulness there is no need for a Savior.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Titus 2:11-12

The purpose of the grace of God in our lives is to teach us to say no to sin- and to enable us to live godly lives.

Justification

For no person will be justified ( made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable ) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the law. For [ the real function of ] the law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin[ not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character]. Romans 3:20 AMPC

We can never be justified by keeping the law because the law was meant to function as a revealer of sin to man. The law is the mirror through which man could see his sinfulness in relation to a Holy God.

All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace ( His unmerited favor and mercy) through redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24

Here is the function of the grace of God where justification is concerned. Grace comes in through Jesus Christ and offers redemption to us where we are unable to stand justified before God.

Falling from grace

For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. Galatians 5:4

Paul here is speaking to people who were returning to observing the law after they received Christ. ( See Gal 5:2-3) They were being pressured to be circumcised which was in keeping with the law. He reminds them this is how the law works, if you keep one, you must keep the whole law ( we know it’s impossible). For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. James 2:10 There was no winning where the law is concerned.

He also tells them by trying to make themselves right before God by keeping the law they had fallen from the grace of God.

Whenever we revert to trying to please God in our own ways and strength, we have fallen from grace.

The consciousness of sin vs righteousness

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. Romans 3:20 NIV

We can never be conscious of sin apart from the law, therefore under the law, we are constantly aware of our sin.

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]. 2 Corinthians 5:21 AMP

By choosing to die on the cross, Christ becomes sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God. We cannot be righteous apart from Him, it is impossible, only in Him do we attain the righteousness that God requires. We, therefore, see that righteousness isn’t through “doing” it’s more of “becoming”. We become through Him.

We also can now become less conscious of sin and more conscious of His righteousness in us. We know we are in grace because we are more conscious of His righteousness in us rather than our sin.

Does grace abolish the law?

For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son], so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power] Romans 8:3-4 AMP

Grace does not abolish the law rather through the grace of God we receive Christ’s fulfillment of the law. What we couldn’t do for ourselves God does for us through His son and gives us the gift of grace. Which enables us to fulfill the requirements of the law( in Christ ) and live in a way that pleases Him.

Dead to sin

For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus. Roams 6:10-11 AMP

Through Baptism, we die with Christ and resurrect to a new life in Him. As He died to sin once and for all, we die with Him and receive the power to live in a new way.

We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. For the person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin. Romans 6:6 AMP

By dying through and in Him, we are no longer slaves to sin. We have been freed from the power of sin.

A New Covenant

I WILL IMPRINT MY LAWS UPON THEIR MINDS [even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding],

AND ENGRAVE THEM UPON THEIR HEARTS [effecting their regeneration]. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

“FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL and GRACIOUS TOWARD THEIR WICKEDNESS, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” Hebrews 8:10,12

This is what the New Covenant means, through Christ God imprints His laws in our minds and hearts. Which enables us to walk and keep them( by His grace). We also can become His children. We all can now know Him, and be conscious of Him by His grace and mercy.

Through grace, God is also able to look at our sins and show us mercy and grace. He is able to completely forget our sins. Not because He chooses to ignore them but because whenever He looks at us, He sees the perfect fulfillment of the law by Jesus. He sees Jesus’ sacrifice on us, and He can be gracious and merciful to us instead of judgment.

May His grace be multiplied in our lives!

Blessed weekend friends!

Related Reads:

Hebrews 11:1 Bible study

The Voice of God Bible study

The Mercy of God Bible study