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Law in the Life of Grace1 Corinthians 7:19b
Keeping God's commands is what counts.
Thoughts for Today:Martin Luther was the first person to employ the Greek term "Antinomian" which means "against the law". He used it to describe believers who thought the coming of Jesus made God's Law (given through Moses) no longer applicable. As far as they were concerned, the Law was an archaic relic of the past. The root of this thought process can be traced to a misinterpretation of the Apostle John's teaching from John 1:17: "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Were they right -- had Mosaic Law been completely replaced by Jesus?
Unfortunately, Luther's "Antinomian's" overlooked the fact there is no "but" in the original Greek text of John 1:17. They also ignored another very important concept: There are many New Testament verses which clearly establish the moral and ethical nature of the Law as a necessary component of a life under grace. Our passage today is just one example.
The Apostle John considered the Law to be such a significant part of the believer's life that he later wrote (1 John 1:24): "Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person." Following the significance of this concept, Dr. Lloyd-Jones wrote: "If the grace you have received does not help you to keep the Law, you have not received grace." I think Paul says it perfectly in our passage today: "Keeping God's commands is what counts!" And that includes the Law.
Questions to Ponder:When Paul said in Romans 7:14 that we died to the Law, he didn't mean the Law died. We are the ones who died -- the Law is very much alive -- the change is in us. When we are raised with Christ to a new life, our hearts are transformed by the sacrificial love of God and we now love the Law we once rebelled against. Has your willful disobedience been broken? Are you a lover of God's moral Law? Will you allow your will to be transformed by Him?
Law in the Life of Grace1 Corinthians 7:19b
Keeping God's commands is what counts.
Thoughts for Today:Martin Luther was the first person to employ the Greek term "Antinomian" which means "against the law". He used it to describe believers who thought the coming of Jesus made God's Law (given through Moses) no longer applicable. As far as they were concerned, the Law was an archaic relic of the past. The root of this thought process can be traced to a misinterpretation of the Apostle John's teaching from John 1:17: "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Were they right -- had Mosaic Law been completely replaced by Jesus?
Unfortunately, Luther's "Antinomian's" overlooked the fact there is no "but" in the original Greek text of John 1:17. They also ignored another very important concept: There are many New Testament verses which clearly establish the moral and ethical nature of the Law as a necessary component of a life under grace. Our passage today is just one example.
The Apostle John considered the Law to be such a significant part of the believer's life that he later wrote (1 John 1:24): "Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person." Following the significance of this concept, Dr. Lloyd-Jones wrote: "If the grace you have received does not help you to keep the Law, you have not received grace." I think Paul says it perfectly in our passage today: "Keeping God's commands is what counts!" And that includes the Law.
Questions to Ponder:When Paul said in Romans 7:14 that we died to the Law, he didn't mean the Law died. We are the ones who died -- the Law is very much alive -- the change is in us. When we are raised with Christ to a new life, our hearts are transformed by the sacrificial love of God and we now love the Law we once rebelled against. Has your willful disobedience been broken? Are you a lover of God's moral Law? Will you allow your will to be transformed by Him?
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