CONVERSION ACCORDING TO LAW AND GRACE

By Gary Ray Branscome

I have already mentioned the fact that the Law prepares our heart for conversion by showing us our sin and need of forgiveness. And, in reading the words, “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be declared righteous by faith,” it is easy to assume that the Law does nothing more than show us our sins (Galatians 3:24). However, the Law not only condemned sin, it also required God’s people to acknowledge their sin and seek forgiveness. We see that aspect of the Law in all of the sacrifices required by the Old Testament. At the same time, the words, “If the inheritance comes by the law, it is not given by promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise,” tell us that forgiveness and salvation did not come to Abraham or anyone else because of the sacrifices, but because they believed God’s promise of forgiveness in Christ (Galatians 3:18). As it is written, “Scripture, having foreseen that God would justify the heathen through faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham in advance,” (Galatians 3:8). And, “Those who have faith in Christ are blessed with Abraham, who also believed,” (Galatians 3:9).

God not only used the Law to show His people their sins, but also to teach them the necessity of repentance, and give them His promise of mercy. By requiring animal sacrifice, God taught His people that forgiveness is not cheap. However, because He instituted those sacrifices as a type of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, He counted faith in the promise of forgiveness connected with those sacrifices as faith in Christ. David trusted in that promise, saying, “I have placed my faith in your grace [mercy]; my heart will rejoice in your salvation” (Psalm 13:5). And, that promise of grace (mercy) is why God said, “I desired mercy, and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6). The actual sacrifices were just a means of teaching God’s people to acknowledge their sin and look to God for mercy.

However, “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For you are all the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:25-26). Therefore, there is no longer any need for animal sacrifices. However, we still need to repent and look to Christ for forgiveness and salvation. The words, “God now commands all men every where to repent” // “Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,” command us to repent (Acts 3:19 and 17:30). And, all such commands are law. Nevertheless, because Christ said “No man can come to me, unless the Father who has sent me draws him,” we know that it is a law that we cannot keep, at least in our own strength (John 6:44). But, it does not depend on us! The words, “What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,” tell us that we are brought to faith and kept in faith by the power of God (Ephesians 1:19). So the Law commands us to repent, but both repentance and faith are gifts of God. For that reason, if we repent and look to Christ in faith, our action and God’s action in us are one and the same.

Here we see a fine line of distinction between the grace that Christ won for us on the cross, and the grace that brings us to faith. Yet Christ is the reason for both. He not only died for our sins, He caused the Bible to be written, and sent the Holy Spirit to bring us to faith so that His death would not be in vain.

The words, “Turn me, and I will be turned; for you are the LORD my God,” call upon God to empower repentance (Jeremiah 31:18). The words, “I will give them a heart to know me, and know that I am the LORD: and they will be my people, and I will be their God: for they will return to me with their whole heart,” speak of repentance as a gift of God (Jeremiah 24:7). And, the words, “It is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure,” tell us that God is at work in us (Philippians 2:13).

[Note: The words, “The blood of all the prophets… From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah,” tell us that Abel was a prophet (Luke 11:50-51). The words, “Abel, also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of its fat. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,” tell us that Abel instituted animal sacrifice. And, the words, “All the prophets testify of Him [Christ], that through His name whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins,” tell us that as God’s prophet, Abel instituted animal sacrifice as a way of testifying of Christ (Acts 10:43).]