THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN LAW AND GOSPEL
By Gary Ray Branscome
Although the law and gospel are, in many ways, opposites
they need to work together like the two blades of a scissors. Without the
gospel, the law will bring only despair. And, without the law, the gospel will give
the unrepentant a false assurance of salvation.
The words, Do not think that I have come to destroy the
law, or the prophets: I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For I tell
you truly, Until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter or stroke will pass
from the law, until everything has been fulfilled, tell us that God has
not changed His law, or made it easier to keep (Matthew 5:17). The words, The
law is not meant for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and
rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for
those who strike or kill their fathers or mothers, for murders, For those who
sin sexually, for sodomites, for kidnapers and slave traders, for liars and
perjurers, and for any other thing that is contrary to sound teaching,
tell us that the unrepentant are still under the law, and are still condemned
by the law (1Timothy 1:9-10). While the words, There is therefore now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set
me free from the law of sin and death, tell us that the freedom from the
law that we have in Christ is freedom from condemnation, not license to sin
(Romans 8:1-2).
In his Epistle to the Romans the Apostle Paul shows us how
law and gospel should work together by first condemning sin, and then pointing
those who are guilty to Christ. In chapter three we read, Whatever the law
says, it says to those who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped,
and the entire world may become guilty before God. Therefore no flesh
will ever be declared righteous in Gods sight by the deeds of the law: because
the knowledge of sin comes by the law. But now the righteousness of
God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the law and
the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which comes through faith in Jesus Christ
to all and upon all who believe: for there is no difference: For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being cleansed of sin freely by His
grace through the forgiveness that is in Christ Jesus
Therefore
we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law
// For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who
believes (Romans
Having been freed from the law through the forgiveness that
Christ won for us, the words, Just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life,
tell us that we should not allow our flesh to control our behavior, but should
try to behave as we will after we are raised incorruptible, and all
sinful desire has been removed from our nature (Romans 6:4, 1Corinthians 15:52)
The words, God
has also made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter [the law], but of the spirit
[i.e. faith 1Cor. 12:3]: for the letter [law] kills, but the spirit gives life,
tell us that the law brings death, but the gospel brings life (2Corinthians
3:5-6). However, having been freed from the law the Bible says, Walk in the
Spirit [that is by faith, believing that it is the forgiveness that is ours in
Christ, and not the law that makes us righteous in the sight of God], and you
will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh: and they are opposed to each other: so that
you cannot do the things that you would. But if you are led by the Spirit, you
are not under the law. Moreover the works of the flesh are obvious, which are;
Adultery, fornication, sexual filthiness, sensuality, Idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, discord, rivalry, rage, strife, divisions, heresies, envy, murder,
drunkenness, orgies, and such like: of which I forewarn you, as I have in the
past, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faith, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law. And they that are
Christs have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. Since we live by
the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain
glory, provoking one another, envying one another (Galatians