Law and Grace

Law and Grace

(Romans 5:20-6:4)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Grace”

Series Title:  “Course Correction:  How Jesus Sets Things Right”

March 17^th, 2024

Something to think about:

GRACE – χάρις (charis). n. fem. grace, good will, favor.  Conveys the sense of a gift of kindness and favor given to a person or persons.

This noun is related to the verb χαρίζομαι (charizomai), which conveys the general concept of giving generously or forgiving a debt or a wrong.  The noun charis can identify charm or the quality of being delightful in the eyes of others (e.g., Luke 1:52).  At times it describes an act that is characterized as kind or generous (e.g., 2 Cor 8:6, 19).  Sometimes this term highlights the undeserved nature of the gift of salvation, given not because of the righteousness of the recipient but because of God’s gracious kindness in Christ (e.g., Eph 2:8).  The blessing of salvation is given freely.^[1]

In our passage for discussion today, we will be exploring GOD’s wonderful gift of grace as contrasted with our (human’s) sinful state.  Grace is how a person is “let off the hook” (so to speak) for things they have done or committed against another, be it GOD or neighbor.  It’s the extension of GOD’s unmerited favor upon humanity even in the face of the atrocities of sin and death.  No matter the amount or extent of the sins of humanity, GOD’s grace abounds all the more.  But there is one great condition:  A person must willingly receive this grace and leave a life of sin.  Let’s take a closer look this morning:

Romans 5:20 – 6:4 (NLT),

²⁰ God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.  But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.  ²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

^6:1  Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?  ² Of course not!  Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?  ³ Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?  ⁴ For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.  And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Here’s the point…

Key Point:  “GOD’s Law only points out what is wrong, the grace of GOD through Christ sets people right.”

Let’s break this down further:

• The  puts a magnifying glass on  .

Romans 5:20a (NLT),  God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. 

•  is the remedy for  .

Romans 5:20b-21 (NLT),  But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.  ²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

•  to sin makes us  in Christ.

Romans 6:2-4 (NLT),  Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?  ³ Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?  ⁴ For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.  And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Something to take home:

According to Timothy George, in his book Amazing Grace:  God’s Pursuit, Our Response,

“The study of God’s grace is like staring into the sun on a bright cloudless day.  That is a dangerous thing to do.  Our eyes can be damaged, even blinded, by such unobstructed vision.  Yet only by means of the sun can we see anything at all—the blue sky, beautiful flowers, mountains, meadows, all of God’s multicolored creation.  Only a stupid person would decide to live his whole life inside a bunker beneath the ground for fear of walking outside in the sunshine.  And so with God’s grace, we must not peer too directly into matters God has not revealed so clearly, lest our spiritual vision be blurred.  But we must never forget that only by God’s grace can we see anything at all.”[2]

Grace may be somewhat inconceivable in light of the condition of the world.  However, when we see the effects of sin and its beauty through the reflection of Christ, there is compelling evidence to believe that anyone can truly be set free from the awful burden of sin and death no matter how deep their wounds and scars.  It is only by willingly receiving GOD’s gift of grace by surrendering our lives to Christ that we can truly understand what a humbling gift this truly is. 

Key Point:  “GOD’s Law only points out what is wrong, the grace of GOD through Christ sets people right.”

^[1] Mathews, Joshua G. 2014. “Blessing.” In Lexham Theological Wordbook, edited by Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, and Rebekah Hurst. Lexham Bible Reference Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

[2] Timothy George, Amazing Grace (Second Edition): God's Pursuit, Our Response.