LAW AND GOSPEL

By Gary Ray Branscome

In his epistles, the Apostle Paul devotes two chapters to the proper relationship of law to gospel. Those two chapters are the third chapter of Romans, and the third chapter of Galatians. In both of those chapters he tells us that trying to keep the law will not make anyone righteous in the sight of God. To the Romans he says, “No one will ever be justified in God’s sight by doing what the law requires: because the law is what makes us aware of our sins” (Romans 3:20). And, to the Galatians he says, “It is clear that no one is justified in the sight of God because of the law, for, the just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11).

Now, to be justified is to be absolved of guilt, pronounced innocent, found blameless, or declared to be righteous. Therefore, one key part of Paul’s doctrine of the proper relationship of law to gospel, is that the law cannot make anyone righteous. And, if it cannot make us righteous it cannot save us. Does that mean that the law is worthless? Not at all! The Apostle Paul goes on to answer that question by saying, “Do we then cancel the law through faith? Absolutely not: On the contrary, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31). That is why Evangelical Christians use the law to expose and condemn sin while pointing people to what the Apostle Paul called, “The righteousness of God apart from the law… the righteousness of God which comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and upon all who believe” (Romans 10:3, and 3:21-22).

Paul goes on to explain the righteousness “which comes through faith in Jesus Christ,” by saying, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). And, how does God’s “grace” and Christ’s “redemption” make us righteous? That question is answered by the words, “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). In short, it is the forgiveness of sins that makes us righteous in the sight of God. That is why it is written, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believes” for “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us of all sin” (Romans 10:4, 1John 1:7).