Many people today make the mistake of thinking that law and grace are something separate, that they don’t work together but rather against each other. From this presupposition springs such a question- Is an attempt to follow God’s moral law denying His grace? But I hope to show that such a belief is wrong and unbiblical.
The principle of salvation by grace through faith cannot be a contradiction of the law. Some dispensationalist have held that Christians live under a dispensation of grace not law, and therefore believer that keeping the moral law is not necessary for them.
But Romans 3:31 says, otherwise - “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” This clearly shows that keeping the law is a continually obligation for the Christian.
When we become regenerated and washed clean, we start a path of sanctification. Prov.6:23 “For the commandment is a lamp and the law a light.” The law shows us, after we have been justified by Christ and then sanctified by the Holy Spirit, how to live, so that we may continue to live a life of good works. But we can only do that with the Holy Spirit working through us.
Also it is by the law that we are sanctified. John 17:17 “Sanctify them by your truth; Your Word is truth.” Christians need the law in order to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness, because it is by the law that we know what sin is.
But back to the question. The law of God is not opposed to His love or grace, but rather shows what it is in action. Obeying God’s moral laws is not denying His grace, His laws are an action of His enduring grace.
-Kaila A.
