nothing at all”. A lot of denominational/humanistic ideologies would have fared
far better had they kept this saying in mind. When, for instance, the relativist
humanist claims that there is no absolute truth, he proves absolutely by his claim
that his position of relativism is not absolutely true – for, allegedly, there is no
absolute truth! If his position is right, and there is no absolute truth, then it is
not absolutely true that there is no absolute truth! And who is to say he is right?
According to his position, only he can, and hence to state his position, let alone to
argue for it, is futile. The same kind of analysis can be rendered with reference to
most denomination’s teaching concerning law, sin, and grace.
WHAT ABOUT LAW?
Modern man is unreservedly hostile to anything that even remotely appears to
be a moral or religious set of limitations. He does not want to be confined from
doing something he really wants to do. Law is just that. It is a “rule of action”. It
sets limitations and places those who are amenable to it under restraint. In the
religious world, there are those who do not want to be restricted by religious law.
The vast majority of the denominations foster the idea that while the people
under the Old Testament had no grace and solely had law, those of us living in
New Testament times nevertheless may have grace but do not have law – at all!
Number one, the theory advocates a self-contradiction. Those who advance
such a view do not realize that they are actually making a Christian law when
they assert that there is no Christian law! Hence, the theory proves that the
theory is false. It proves too much, and therefore nothing.
Number two, it is absolutely absurd to affirm that Christians are not
amenable to law, of any kind – whatsoever. To thus insist is to contend that there
is absolutely no system of living or “rule of action” by which God would have us
to walk. “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” is not something we
ought to feel impelled to do (Matthew 5:44)! Or, “All things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12); according to
the “no law at all” position, this great “golden rule” is not applicable to us today!
Or how about this one? “Love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love
one another” (John 13:34); not necessary, right? After all, we should not be
restrained by any moral or religious regulation! Downright preposterous!
Number three, someone may be prompted to make an argument from
Romans 6:14, which says: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are
not under the law, but under grace”. To which law does Paul refer? If the word
“law” is limited by the context in which it occurs, then Paul obviously had in mind
a specific kind of law, and not law in general. If, on the other hand, the word “law”
is not limited by its context, then Christians may permissibly live as lawless
creatures! They may do whatever their heart fancies to do as long as they are
without law! But the one who penned the book of Romans has openly written,
not only in his other epistles, but in Romans as well, that we are to adhere to law,
and that we are not without law to God! He says that we ought to “fulfill the law
of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). Parenthetically, Paul avers we are “not without law to God,
but under the law to Christ” (I Cor. 9:21). A few chapters following Paul’s
statement in Romans 6:14, he wrote: “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). Friends, if we are
“not under law at all”, then how can we be made free from the law of sin and
death? It was a law – the law of the Spirit of life – that made Paul free!
To understand the premise from which Paul is reasoning in the book of
Romans is to understand the meaning of Romans 6:14. Justification, according to
Paul, can only come through Christ and not through the Law of Moses (Rom. 1:16-
17). It is from this fundamental thesis that Paul writes the rest of his epistle. The
Gentiles did not have the Law of Moses (2:14). The Jews did, and often
transgressed it (2:17-24). The works of the Law of Moses could not justify either
of the two (3:1-23). Only the system of grace “that is in Christ Jesus” could (3:24-
31; 4-5:11). When the Law of Moses entered, sin was imputed to men when they
violated it (5:12-21). There was no antidote for those sins unless Christ offered
His grace to absolve them (5:21). When Christ came, bled, and died He brought
grace to sinful man’s doorstep, and those who would be “buried with him by
baptism” would subsequently be able to “walk in newness of life” (6:1-5). The
Christian is now freed from the law of sin and he should not let “sin therefore
reign in [his] mortal body, that [he] should obey it in the lusts thereof” (6:5-13).
When we sin in any respect, we have submitted ourselves to complete
unrighteousness. We have scratched our names out of the “loyalty to God”
contract we once signed, and instead have etched them into the one styled
“loyalty to sin”. But Paul says “sin shall not have dominion over you” (6:14).
Why? “for ye are not under the law, but under grace”. Since we are under grace,
we are freed from sin and shall no longer continue therein (6:1-2). If we are
under the Law of Moses, we cannot have grace – we cannot be justified, for that
Law did not bring forgiveness. Thus, since we are under grace, and can thereby be
made free from sin, we should no longer let sin be our master (6:15-16). When we
obeyed from the heart the doctrine or law of Christ, we allowed grace and
righteousness – not the Law of Moses; not the law of sin and death – to be our
master (6:17-18).
The law, then, of which Paul speaks here is not law in general, but it is the Law
of Moses, for no sin could be pardoned based on that law.. That Law was
abrogated at the cross (Col. 2:14), changed with the new priesthood of Christ
(Heb. 7:12), and veritably has vanished away (Heb. 8:13). We now live “under the
law to Christ” (I Cor. 9:21).
IF NO LAW, THEN NO GRACE
The position which argues that we are not under law at all, but under grace,
actually proves just the opposite! It nullifies grace rather than establishes it.
Consider the following:
1) Paul plainly testifies: “for where no law is, there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:
15). If we are not under law – any law – then there is no such thing as sin. Again,
Paul said: “sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Rom. 5:13). No law, no sin.
Simple enough. John affirms: “sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4).
Obviously, one cannot transgress or violate that which does not exist. If there is
no law, then, there is no sin.
2) But if there is no sin, there is no grace, for grace is that which is conferred to
man on behalf of his sin! According to Paul, “we have redemption through his
[Christ’s] blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”
(Eph. 1:3-7). Grace removes sin. If there is no sin, there is no need for grace to
come and to eradicate that sin. It doesn’t exist! Thus, no sin, no grace.
3) The irresistible conclusion follows, where there is no law, there is no sin, and
where there is no sin, there is no grace; hence, no law, no grace! The “not under
law at all, but under grace” position proves too much, and, consequently, nothing
at all. Whether it belongs to humanism or denominationalism, any theory,
practice, or doctrine which shoots itself in the foot is not worthy of even a fleeting
notice!
FINAL EXHORTATION
Followers of Christ have the ineffable benefit of being redeemed, by our Lord’s
loving sacrifice, from the bondage and curse of the Law of Moses (Gal. 3:13; 4:9-
11; 4:21-31; 5:1-4). We are privileged to have the ability to look into a perfect law
and, inasmuch as we heed its edicts, to receive God’s blessings and to retain the
hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2). Let us never forget that the law under which we
live, and the law by which we all shall ultimately be judged (James 2:12), is not
one of slavery, blight, or defect, but of freedom (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:1), blessing
(Luke 11:28; Rev. 22:14), and perfection (James 1:25)! You cannot go wrong when
you adhere to the law of Christ (II Tim. 3:16-17). If you are not in Christ, make
provision today. The perfect law of liberty entreats you to hear the Word of Christ
(Matthew 11:15); believe the testimony about the Savior and be willing to obey
Him (John 8:24; Heb. 5:8-9); turn from your sins (Luke 13:3); confess before
men that Christ is Lord (Matthew 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10); and be baptized
(Matthew 18:20; Mark 16:16; Gal. 3:26-27; I Pet. 3:21, et al.). If you keep none of
this rule, you do greatly err, not knowing the truth (James 4:17). If you keep only
part of this rule, you are guilty of all (James 2:10). And as many “as walk
according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God”
(Gal. 6:16).
