By Gary Ray Branscome
The law is God’s message to the unrepentant,
the gospel is God’s message to those who repent. The law reveals God’s condemnation
of sin, while warning the sinner of His wrath. The Gospel reveals God’s grace
while assuring those who repent of forgiveness in Christ.
The words, “As through the sin of one judgment came upon
all men to condemnation; even so through the righteousness of one the free gift
abounds to all men bringing justification and life” tell us that sin brings
the condemnation of the law, while the gospel frees us from condemnation
(Romans 5:18). The words, “If the ministry of condemnation is glorious, the
ministry of righteousness is far more glorious,” call the law a “ministry
of condemnation,” and the gospel a “ministry of righteousness” (2Corinthians
3:9). And, the words, “As sin has reigned unto death, even so grace might
reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord,” tell
us that the law [sin] brings death, while the gospel [grace] brings
righteousness and life to all who trust in Christ (Romans 5:21).
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… However… Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law,
receiving the curse in our stead,” tell us that the law condemns all who
trust in it, while the gospel assures us of God’s mercy in Christ; assuring us
that “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of His grace” (Galatians 3:10-14, Ephesians 1:7).
The words, “No flesh will ever be justified in God’s
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,” tell
us that the law cannot make anyone righteous, but there is another way of
becoming righteous, namely through the forgiveness that comes through faith in
Christ (Romans
The law makes us sinners; the gospel frees us from sin.
The law condemns us; the gospel frees us from condemnation. The law brings
death, the gospel brings life.