If Christians Aren't Under Law But Under Grace, What Is the Law For?

2/9/19    Eddie

Passersby to our conversation in the electronics department at Target would have heard me asking Eddie, a fellow shopper whom I just met, questions like “How many lies have you told in your life?” and “Have you ever taken anything that didn’t belong to you?  What would you be called?” and they would have heard Eddie humbly say “I’d be a thief”.

“Have you ever used God’s name disrespectfully (such as G-D or OMG)?”  

Eddie had, and I went on… “Jesus said in His sermon on the mount that ‘…anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I (Jesus) tell you that … anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.’ “  (Matt 5) 

“Have you ever called anyone a name in anger?”  Eddie admitted he had, and I told him that God’s standard regarding murder isn’t just about hurting someone physically but using even using our words to hurt people. 

Now I know that people who passed by us and heard soundbites of our conversation - and probably some who simply glance over this story – will think that I am just being a judgmental legalistic type who is using God’s laws to make myself look better than others.  Shouldn’t I just focus on God’s love and acceptance?

But 1 Timothy 1:8 tells us “We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.”  It doesn’t say we shouldn’t use it at all or ignore it completely.  The Gospel is the good news of God’s grace, but there is still a proper use for God’s law. 

A legalistic and improper use would be to say or imply that we can be saved if we follow it more rigidly, but we are told in Romans 3:20 that “…no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;…”  We simply can’t have a right relationship with God by our works of righteousness.  I told Eddie that even if we repented perfectly and never sinned again for the rest of our lives (something I really don’t think we could do anyway), we would still be guilty of the laws we have already broken.

So what is the proper use of the law in sharing the Gospel?  Romans 3:20 continues on to tell us:  “…rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” 

If I saw someone walking around with food or dirt on their face, not realizing how foolish they were looking, wouldn’t the kind and loving thing to do would be to let them know they should look at themselves in a mirror?  That’s what the purpose of God’s law is, to act as a mirror or a standard by which we can see our true state in God’s eyes, to make us conscious of our sin. 

It’s an important part of the process of helping people know their need for the Savior, and to truly appreciate the grace and forgiveness that Jesus brings when we trust in Him.  As for the passersby to our conversation who just heard quick soundbites, I pray that perhaps they, too, caught a quick glimpse of themselves in the mirror.

Thanks, Eddie, for allowing me to record our conversation.  It’s HERE