Law and Grace
The mainstream Christian belief is that we only need grace to be saved. Others say you need to keep the law in order to be saved.
What does the Bible say?
In Romans 6:23, Paul wrote:
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. "
Two things are clear from this verse:
1. the wages of sin is death, and
2. the gift of God is eternal life
Paul is saying that death is something that we earn by sinning. In other words death is the result of sinning. If we sin, we die. On the other hand, eternal life is the gift of God, which means eternal life is not something that we can earn. God gives eternal life out of His goodness toward us.
Now, what is sin? How does the Bible define sin?
1Jo 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
Rom 7:7 "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."
From the above verses we see that sin is the violation of the commandments. In other words we sin when we break the commandments - which in turn earn us death. But then, you might ask wasn't the law abolished?
Christ says:
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Christ further says:
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
So it is clear from our Savior Himself that we are to keep the law or the commandments. But, you might say, that is too hard - it is impossible to keep the law. Continuing with Mat.19:
Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
What does this mean then, do we earn salvation by works?
(To be continued)
What does the Bible say?
In Romans 6:23, Paul wrote:
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. "
Two things are clear from this verse:
1. the wages of sin is death, and
2. the gift of God is eternal life
Paul is saying that death is something that we earn by sinning. In other words death is the result of sinning. If we sin, we die. On the other hand, eternal life is the gift of God, which means eternal life is not something that we can earn. God gives eternal life out of His goodness toward us.
Now, what is sin? How does the Bible define sin?
1Jo 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
Rom 7:7 "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."
From the above verses we see that sin is the violation of the commandments. In other words we sin when we break the commandments - which in turn earn us death. But then, you might ask wasn't the law abolished?
Christ says:
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Christ further says:
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
So it is clear from our Savior Himself that we are to keep the law or the commandments. But, you might say, that is too hard - it is impossible to keep the law. Continuing with Mat.19:
Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
What does this mean then, do we earn salvation by works?
(To be continued)
posted by fssantos @ 9:15 PM
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