Gary Fulker

LAW & GRACE

Some people would have you believe that law and grace don't mix. That if one  tries to keep the commandments they are trying to earn their salvation.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

We have only to look at a simple analogy to understand how law and grace  work hand and hand to bring us closer to God. Suppose you are a parent. You  have a young child whom you love dearly. As a parent you want to give your  child every good gift. Yet, as a parent, you realize that you don't always  give your offspring everything they ask for. Some of the things desired just  wouldn't benefit them. Others could be downright harmful.

Our son wants a car. When will he be given one? Not until he has studied the  laws of the road, received his permit, and learned how to put those laws  into actual practice. To allow an untrained youngster free access to a car  before they have learned how to operate one would be an act of  irresponsibility on the parents part that could end in disaster for the  child as well as others.

One needs to know and apply the laws of the road in order to drive in a safe  and sane fashion. In the same manner, one needs to know God's law in order  to live in a responsible fashion. Knowing and applying the laws of safe  driving will not EARN our son a car. Nor does knowing and applying God's  laws EARN us salvation. Both are GIFTS from loving parents. Just as we will  sit in the seat next to our son and give him directions as he learns how to  maneuver in traffic, so God, through His laws, sits besides us and directs  us in how to live as we work our way through this physical existence. And  just as our son will make mistakes in his driving, so will we make mistakes  in the way we live our lives.

Suppose our son slips through a stop sign without stopping? He sees his  mistake and promises he will never do such a stupid thing again. We take him  at his word and he will receive the gift of a new car later on. Now suppose  he constantly goes through stop signs? He shows no remorse for his actions  and can't see what all the fuss is about. Would we be showing love to allow  him to sit behind the wheel of a car? Hardly! He would be placing his life  and the lives of others in jeopardy. In the same manner God will forgive us  when we make mistakes. That is God's grace in action. And we certainly all  need it, because we all make mistakes! But if we harden our hearts and  refuse to live by His rules, refuse to admit our wrong doing, He certainly  isn't going to give us the gift of eternal life. To do so wouldn't be  showing love for either us or the rest of His creation.

What must we do to receive eternal life? The Bible tells us to, believe on  the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. But what does that mean? What  kind of belief are we talking about?

We have seen that precept must be upon precept; line upon line; here a  little and there a little. To understand what sort of belief is required we  must look into all the scriptures on a subject. For no prophecy of the  scripture is of any private interpretation. We need to let the Bible  interpret the Bible and not look at just one or two verses out of context. Romans 3:20 tells us, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh  be justified in His sight. yet in Romans 2:13 we find, Not the hearers of  the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Eph. 2:8-9 tells us, By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of  yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.  Yet James 2:14-20 asks, What does it profit, my brethren though a man say he  hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? Even so faith, if it  hath not works is dead, being alone . . . I will show thee my faith by my  works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils  also believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without  works is dead.

What is the answer? Is it faith or works? Grace or the Law? What is James  talking about when he claims, that faith without works is dead? The Bible speaks of two kinds of faith. The first is faith without works. A  dead faith. The second is a living faith. A faith that Abraham displayed  when he offered up his son Isaac. Was not Abraham our father justified by  works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith  wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect? You see then how  that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only? James 2:21-24 Living faith is a faith that walks hand in hand with works. Because we  believe God we trust that His laws are holy and His commandments are holy  and just and good. (Rom 7:12) We put them to work in our lives. 

We all need grace because we have all sinned. Yet some will say that we are  under grace and don't need to obey God's law. It is true that Christ's  sacrifice paid the death penalty for us. Yet Paul asks, What then, shall we  sin because we are not under the law but under grace? God forbid! (Rom 6:15)  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid! How shall we  that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

It is the sinner that is under the law. Those who have repented and are  striving to obey God in faith are the ones under grace. We are not justified by the law. Why? Because the law only gives knowledge  of sin. The purpose of the law is not to forgive or justify or wash away our  sins. Only the blood of Jesus Christ is able to do that. Sin is the  transgression of the law, or lawlessness. That is what sin is. The purpose  of the law is to define sin. To reveal it to us so that we can repent of  transgressing it. By the law comes knowledge of sin. It is the spiritual  mirror that allows us to see our faults and shortcomings, But be ye doers of  the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a  hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his  natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and  straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the  Perfect Law of Liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful  hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James  1:22-25

Paul asked, Do we then make void the law through faith? his answer, God  forbid; yea we establish the law. Remember Jesus said, If you will enter into life, keep the commandments. We  know that humanly it is impossible for man to keep the commandments  perfectly. How then will be be saved? Jesus tells us, Who then can be saved?  With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. God looks on the heart. When He sees that we are striving to obey He extends  His mercy.

Through His Spirit He grants us His faith which, coupled with our  efforts, gives us a way of life that centers around His law, a law of love  toward God and our fellowman. This way of living produces a living faith.  When we make mistakes, and we will because we are still human and weak in  the flesh, we repent and God extends His mercy. God's law if perfect. It is a spiritual law. Holy, just and good. All His  commandments are sure and stand fast forever and ever. (Ps. 19:7; Rom. 7:14;  Rom. 7:12; Ps.. 111:7-8) God's law is a law of love. Given to protect and  guide. Love is the fulfilling of that law. Whose love? the love of God, shed  abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. John tells us, He that saith I know  him and keepeth not His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  (I John 2:4)

It is a common practice to use the verse, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ  and thou shalt be saved to mean that the mere belief in the fact of Christ's  existence, His sacrifice and His saving works, is enough to gain us  salvation. Just accept these facts without obedience to His laws, and you  shall be saved! Yet the bible tells us that the devils (demons) believe  there is one God and they tremble! 

People today want to believe in the messenger without believing the message  that He brought. Yet Jesus said, If you will enter into life, keep the  commandments. Peter said, Repent and you shall receive the gift of the Holy  Spirit. Who does God give the Holy Spirit to? To those who obey Him. Acts  5:32

Christ came to save us from our sins, not in them! Not everyone that saith  unto me, 'Lord!' 'Lord!' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. But he that  doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

We need to be sure that we don't fall into the category of those who worship  God in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Laying aside  the commandments of God, and holding the tradition of men! Mark 7:7-8 We are not saved by our commandment keeping. It is the blood of Christ that  saves us. Yet without repentance and obedience to God's law God will not  give us the gift of eternal life. 

It is not a question of law OR grace. It is a question of law AND grace! As  we strive to live a life of overcoming, exercising the law of love toward  God and neighbor in our lives, God extends us His grace. 

If we strive to be faithful servants in the not to distant future God will  say to us, "Well done thou good and faithful servant; you were faithful over  a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of  your lord."

---

An Invitation to Join the Presidential Prayer Team

Click Here to Join the Presidential Prayer Team

About
Renowned sculptor, William Hunter, founded The Presidential Prayer Team. Hunter specializes in patriotic art. His designs and their patriotic themes were quickly recognized for their value to our national heritage. Bill Hunter's works have been displayed in museums, the Pentagon, the Arizona State Capitol, in two presidential libraries and in the Oval Office.

On his own, Hunter engraved and minted a special coin to serve as a reminder to himself and others to uphold our President in prayer. He gave the coin freely to his friends and associates. As they carried it in their pockets or purses, more and more of them began requesting additional reminder coins to pass on to others, while testifying of the concept's effectiveness. He then began to envision a nationwide prayer effort for the President, built on the same principle of not only asking people to pray, but giving them simple items that would be a reminder. That's when concept for The Presidential Prayer Team was formed.

The Presidential Prayer Team is a unique effort to mobilize 1% of the population-2.8 million people-to pray daily for the President. This effort is non-partisan and invites participation by anyone who prays to the God of the Bible. The Presidential Prayer Team is an independent, nonprofit organization with a single purpose and goal. The goal is simply to incite daily prayer for the Office of the President. It will also provide information on the daily prayer needs of the President and our country's leadership, both for this administration and future administrations.

Endorsements
Franklin Graham, Bill McCartney, Jack Hayford, Joni Eareckson Tada, Henry Blackaby, Paul Cedar, Ted Haggard, Cornell Haan, Len Munsil, and Ed Silvoso are among those endorsing the Presidential Prayer Team's goal to encourage millions to pray daily for the President, the Cabinet and the nation.

Free Gift for Joining
Join the Presidential Prayer Team (there is no fee) and you'll receive the official blue and gold foil decal (shown below) to proudly display in your window or on your car. It will be a constant reminder to yourself and others to pray for the President. Every member also receives weekly email prayer updates. There is never any obligation and all member information will forever remain confidential.