Law and Grace

"Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness...No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God" (1 John 3:4, 9).

“Lawlessness” means the condition of living without any law, either because of ignorance of the law or because of continual violation despite knowledge of the law (studylight.org).  Christians are not to practice lawlessness.  We are not to live as if there is no law, no commands, as if obedience didn’t matter.  Paul says that we are no longer under the law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14-15).  He means that we are no longer defined by the law, but are defined by grace.  Our standing with God is not determined by the law, but by God’s grace.  Salvation and peace with God come not because of our goodness but because of our repentance.  However, Paul is quick to note that this does not give us freedom to sin.  This condition of grace does not make obedience null and void.  Paul’s reasoning is complex, but in effect, he says, “If you continue to make a practice of obeying sin, you will become its slave, and it will lead you to death (6:16).  The one who has been freed from sin by Christ’s death and resurrection will have a changed heart of obedience (6:17).  The answer to Paul’s question, “How can we who died to sin still live in it?” is, “We can’t!” (6:2).  Christians live changed lives, not to earn salvation, but because they have been graciously freed from the condemnation of the law, been made children of God, and are strengthened by the power and presence of the Spirit.  The law is not without purpose for the Christian, it is without power.  God’s grace and Spirit provide the power to obey God from the heart.  The promise that God gave in the Old Testament of what was to come was not that he would take away the law, but that he would “put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts” (Jer. 31:33).  

Is God’s purpose that we would be reconciled with him and live in peaceful fellowship with him?  Or is God’s purpose that we would follow his commandments and do what is right?  The answer is “yes” to both questions.  God is not interested in our living in peaceful fellowship with him while showing no fruit of obedience.  Our lack of fruit actually reveals that we might not be in fellowship with him at all.  However, God is also not interested in simply morality, living a good life.  God wants our hearts, the deepest part of who we are.  His desire is not that we would just try to live the best life we can.  He wants us.  He is a jealous God.  He wants our worship, love and devotion.  Yet this is not something we can accomplish on our own.  Our sin keeps us running away from God and blinds us to His truth.  God’s purpose has always been to capture our hearts by his grace, not by our effort.  HE draws us to himself by his grace.  HE gives us eyes that can really see by his grace.  HE offers us the opportunity for repentance and salvation by his grace.  The result of all his abundant grace is that we would live changed lives.  His grace motivates us and his Spirit empowers us to practice obedience rather than sin.  Because of what HE has done, we CAN, WILL and MUST live changed lives in relationship to him.  This life will be characterized by repentance and continual reliance on his grace.  Repentance is a sign of belonging to God more than a sign of failure.  Repentance reveals that one is headed in the right direction.