THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAW AND GOSPEL

By Gary Ray Branscome

One of the ways that Satan attacks, and attempts to subvert, the gospel is by confusing the law with the gospel. The words, “A man is not made righteous by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ,” tell us that it is through the gospel [the good news of forgiveness in Christ] that we are made righteous in the sight of God (Galatians 2:16). As it is written, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believes” (Romans 10:4). For that reason, the words, “Being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to the righteousness of God,” tell us that whenever someone assumes that the law will make him righteous he is confusing law and gospel (Romans 10:3).

What then is the purpose of the law? The Bible answers that question by saying, “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be declared righteous by faith” (Galatians 3:24). And, the words, “The knowledge of sin comes by the law,” tell us that the law brings us to Christ by showing us our sin and need for the forgiveness that He won for us on the cross (Romans 3:20). However, the law is not a means of grace because it does not produce faith. It may prepare our hearts for faith, by bringing us to repentance, but without the gospel that would just leave us in despair, without any hope of salvation. It is the gospel that gives us hope, by telling us that Christ died for our sins, and by assuring us that, “Whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). And, faith is believing the gospel.

The words, “The law has nothing to do with faith,” tell us that our faith does not consist of believing the law, and has nothing to do with the law (Galatians 3:12). In fact the words, “All who trust in the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who does not continue to do everything that is written in the book of the law,” tell us that the law brings condemnation, not righteousness (Galatians 3:10). And the words “Whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God,” tell us that everyone on earth is condemned by the law (Romans 3:19). “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).

However, the words, “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,” tell us that there is a different way of becoming righteous, namely, through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-22). For, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us of all sin” (1John 1:7).

To put it briefly, the law consists of everything in the Bible that reveals our sin, condemns it, or contrasts it with God’s holiness. The gospel, on the other hand, consists of everything in the Bible that testifies of Christ, assuring us of forgiveness in Him. Furthermore, everything God has written in the Bible is either law or gospel. Even the simple statement, “Jesus wept,” is gospel because it reveals Christ’s compassion (John 11:35). While the words, “Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him,” are law because they reveal and condemn sin (Genesis 4:8).

Because both law and gospel are inspired by God, and apply to all men, they need to be preached side by side. Since the purpose of the law is to reveal our sin and point us to Christ, that is the way in which the law should be used. And, since the purpose of the gospel is to assure all who look to Christ for mercy that they have forgiveness in Christ, that is the way in which the gospel should be used. The law and gospel need to work together. They are not being used properly whenever the unrepentant are given a false assurance of salvation, or those who repent are robbed of their assurance of salvation by being told that their faith in Christ is not enough.