Not Under Law but Under Grace
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Two dangerous paths that God wants believers to avoid. Paul helps us carefully steer a safe course between the errors of legalism on the one side and licentiousness on the other.
Legalism- earn or maintain God’s favor by means of my ability to keep his law (vv. 14-15). These kinds of people like to use the necessity of God’s law as a means of force, as a club. To their eyes the law is mandatory in order to restrain sin in the life of a Christian.
License- presuming on the grace of God in order to live in sin. Paul’s message is that we have received “freedom from sin, is not freedom to sin.” —Moo (vv. 16-23). These kinds of people pervert our new freedom in Christ into an excuse for sinning.
How do we steer clear of these two potential dangers? This morning we are going to look at Paul’s answer to the first danger. How do we steer clear of the dangerous path of legalism? And He gives us His answer in v. 14:
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
If we are going to avoid the danger of legalism there are several truths we must understand:
“Believers today are not under law, either as a way of salvation or as a rule of life.” —Myron Houghton
I. Christians are not under law as a way of salvation
I. Christians are not under law as a way of salvation
All true Christians understand and agree with this statement.
“Our salvation, from start to finish, is based upon God’s promise, and not upon our performance.” —Myron Houghton
There is one place and one place only for the law in salvation.
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The only use of the law in our salvation is bringing to light the knowledge of sin, to stop every mouth, and to bring guilt and condemnation.
The law cannot save us. We are not under the law as a way of salvation.
II. Christians are not under law as a rule of life
II. Christians are not under law as a rule of life
Here is where some Christians struggle in their understanding. Yes, they will say, the law has no part in our salvation. Our salvation is all a work of God’s grace. But, as soon as the sinner is saved by God’s grace, they want to put the believer back under law as a rule of life. Your ability or inability to keep the law is what determines the kind of Christian you are- either you are mature, based on your ability to keep the law, or you are immature (or possibly not a Christian at all), based on your inability to keep the law.
This kind of thinking, that once I am saved I must live under law, has led to some disastrous consequences.
1. Fear and doubts concerning our salvation
1. Fear and doubts concerning our salvation
If you believe that once saved you must put yourself back under law instead of living under grace it may lead to a lack of assurance of your salvation.
If my sanctification is based upon my ability to keep God’s laws this leads to doubts and worries.
“What if I didn’t DO ENOUGH at the time of my salvation?”
“If I sin, will I lose my salvation?”
“How many times can I sin before I should begin doubting my salvation?”
These statements come from someone that does not adequately understand what it means that the Christian is no longer under law, but rather under grace.
Not only does the belief that Christians are still under law lead to fear and doubts about their salvation, but it also leads to the idea that:
2. Obedience that is primarily motivated by fear
2. Obedience that is primarily motivated by fear
Do you remember the purpose of the law?
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
The purpose of the law is to make you feel guilt. It is to show you your inability to measure up to God’s standards. It is to lead you to repentance.
If you place yourself back under law as your rule of life it will lead to an obedience that is primarily motivated by fear.
“What if I step out of line.”
“I am so worthless! I keep on making the same mistakes! God has every right to destroy me!”
These thoughts come from a fundamental misunderstanding of theology! As believers we are no longer under law as a rule of life.
Why?
Romans 6:14 (ESV)
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Some might argue and say, well we are no longer under the civil or the ceremonial law, but we are still under the moral law.
But, that is not the testimony of the Scriptures.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
God canceled all of the record of our debt consisting of decrees against us. He abolished the law of commandments expressed in ordinances.
When God did all this He abolished all of the law, including the moral, civil, and ceremonial aspects.
Many Christians get heartburn when you talk like this! Why? Well, if the Christian is not under law, at least not under the moral aspects of the law, then what is there keeping them from sin?
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
And that is the exact point Paul is addressing. That is exactly what Paul’s opponents leveled against him.
What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace?
Paul if you are going to tell us all these things about grace there is a glaring problem. If we are no longer under law at all, any of it, but instead we are only under grace, doesn’t that open the door for the opportunity to sin?
Paul’s answer? Absolutely not! By no means!
In fact Paul has already given us the answer in v. 14. Why is the door for sin not open? You said Paul that we are no longer under law! Surely the door for sin is open then.
Not at all! Yes it is true, if you are in Christ you are no longer under law, BUT you are under grace!
Romans 6:14 (ESV)
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
III. Christians are under grace as a way of salvation
III. Christians are under grace as a way of salvation
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
How is it that as Christians we are now under grace? It flows out of the primary benefit of our salvation which is justification.
When we were justified at the moment of our salvation do you remember what God did for you because of Jesus Christ?
Romans 4:6 (ESV)
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
Romans 4:8 (ESV)
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Two aspects of justification:
God no longer counts / imputes / credits our sin in His records; they are blotted out and forgiven.
God credits righteousness apart from works to your account.
You entered into this new position as a Christian, the position of being under grace, at the moment of your salvation. And what makes it possible for you to be under grace is your justification.
How can God cause grace upon grace to overflow to you? Do you have to merit it by means of you own ability? NO! You have been justified. God has blotted out all your sins and he has credited your account with His own perfect righteousness. God is now free to lavish you with grace upon grace! How is this possible?
19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
You were made righteous by the obedience of one man Jesus Christ, when he became obedient unto death even the death of a cross. Being under grace is possible only because of what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross.
20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
Here is the only job of the law- to increase the trespass. But wherever sin increased, grace abounded all the more. Your sins are forgiven, you are righteous in God’s eyes, so God is both able and justified in pouring out his immeasurable grace to you. This is your new position!
21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Old Man
New Man
“Our salvation, from start to finish, is based upon God’s promise, and not upon our performance.” —Myron Houghton
IV. Christians are under grace as a rule of life
IV. Christians are under grace as a rule of life
Not only are we saved by God’s grace and not the law, but believers today are to live their lives by God’s grace, not by the law.
We are not under law, BUT we are under grace. We are not only justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, we are sanctified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone as well.
This kind of thinking, that I live by God’s grace as a rule of life and not by the law, leads to some wonderful conclusions:
1. Eternal security concerning our salvation
1. Eternal security concerning our salvation
“Our salvation, from start to finish, is based upon God’s promise, and not upon our performance.” —Myron Houghton
The security of our salvation does not lie in our performance or our ability to keep the law, but in the promise of God!
In Hebrews 10 the author of this sermon is concerned with driving home the fact that all our sins are blotted out (not just past sins), and therefore we are eternally secure in Christ.
1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
Let’s compare the salvation benefits the OT saints had versus NT saints.
Our first comparison is that the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities.
The law was inferior to Christ, because it could not make perfect those who draw near. And the OT saints had an awareness of this severe limitation!
2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?
OT saints were aware that the law, and its sacrifices, could not make perfect those who drew near. That is why they kept on offering sacrifices year after year. The sacrifices of the law did not remove the consciousness of sins.
Now the OT sacrifices did cleanse them from their sins.
30 For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins.
The OT saint was aware that on the day of atonement they were cleansed from their sins, but:
3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
They knew they were cleansed; but they were also reminded that this cleansing had a limited effect. The day of atonement sacrifice that was just made was also made last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. There was a reminder to them that they could not remain free from sins, and that next year another sacrifice would have to be made. Why?
4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
OT saints sins could not be removed merely covered by those year-by-year sacrifices until the true form of these realities came in the person of Christ!
As NT believers our awareness of the forgiveness of our sins is drastically different, and infinitely better!
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Christ’s sacrifice accomplished the purpose that animal sacrifices could not. Christ once and for all purified and removed all our sins. Not just past sins, but all our sins- past, present, and future! The sacrifice of Christ has removed the believer’s consciousness of sins!
2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?
But because of Jesus Christ and his perfect sacrifice for us on the cross this is the testimony of the Holy Spirit to our spirits!
17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
God no longer remembers our sin! Our sins and our lawless deeds He remembers NO MORE!! This is not divine amnesia, but a solemn promise never to mention our sins again. He no longer has to- all our sins have been removed and we have been forever purified by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins.
The author of Hebrews is preaching the gospel! Believers who understand this truth will never be afraid of God’s wrath or feel guilty before Him. You are no longer under law you are under grace. You have been forever purified by the blood of Jesus Christ. God has made you a solemn promise! You sins and your lawless deeds He will remember no more. You are under THAT grace! This cause us to overflow with confidence and assurance and eternal security through Jesus Christ. It flows out of being under grace! And what a privileged position to be in. United to Christ and under God’s grace! Rest in this truth. Place your faith in this promise and know what it means to live under grace!
Not only does living under grace provide eternal security it also helps us understand that:
2. Obedience that is primarily motivated by love.
2. Obedience that is primarily motivated by love.
17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
Love has been perfected with us- Lit. “love has reached its goal” with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgement.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Because of our salvation we have been justified with Christ. We we were justified all of our sins were blotted out of God’s record book, and we were credited with God’s own righteousness. We are now under grace. And it is the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross that has perfected us forever. Because of this we have God’s promise that all our sins and lawless deeds He will remember no more! God now loves us as children. We are under His grace. This new position, being united to Christ, being under grace, being loved by God casts out fear.
What does this mean for my daily living? It means obeying God does not give us any more favor with God than we already posses in Christ. God loves us, not because of our performance, but because of what Christ has done for us! God loves you because of Christ, because you are in Christ and under grace! You cannot undo that! No matter what you do! You are now under grace.
But you don’t know how badly I messed up last week! Me too!
Your obedience to God does not grant you any more favor with God. You already posses all the favor and love you will ever need in Christ. You are under grace!
If this is true, then what is keeping me from sin?
19 We love because he first loved us.
Grace motives us to obedience on the basis of love. We love because he first loved us. Obedience comes from hearts that have been overwhelmed by application of God’s love through the Spirit. And empowered by the Spirit of God we obey, not externally, but inwardly from the heart. We actually respond the way God deserves. We obey out of love for God. When we lovingly obey God gets the glory He deserves. Only He could do this work in our hearts. Only grace is powerful enough to accomplish this kind of change!
This does not mean that believers may never fear the consequences of disobedience or feel the sorrow of failure, but generally grace motivates believers to obedience by love.
Nor does this mean that we are not required to meet God’s demands since we are no longer under law. We are now under grace and grace does make demands.
When we are under the control of the Spirit of God, believers are motivated by grace to fulfill the righteous standard of the law (Rom 8:4), not because we are terrified if we fail to obey God, but instead motivated by love, we are like obedient children prompted by respectful reverence.
Here in Romans 6:14-15 Paul gives us some amazing truths to dwell on so that we might avoid the dangerous path of legalism.
Believers today are not under law, either as a way of salvation or as a rule of life.
Instead, we are saved by God’s grace and not the law, and believers today are to live their lives by God’s grace, not by the law.
We are not under law, but under grace.
“Our salvation, from start to finish, is based upon God’s promise, and not upon our performance.” —Myron Houghton
Live your life as one under grace. Rest in the wonders of your salvation, draw comfort from the eternal security that is yours in Christ based on God’s grace. Live your current life of sanctification by God’s grace. Let your obedience be motivated not by fear, but by love. Begin to learn what it means to be under grace and not under law!