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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Grace—Replaces the Law or Replaces Righteous Behavior?, #4
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? (Romans 7:1)
We have not understood these chapters because we have come from a Gentile background with going to Heaven as our goal rather than the pleasing of God by righteous behavior—the goal of Paul and of all other devout Jews.
Grace Replaces the Law of Moses, Not Righteous Behavior
Now we come to the point of the present essay. Christian theology often presents Divine grace as a replacement for righteous behavior. It is maintained we ought to please Jesus by trying to practice righteousness, trying to be merciful, trying to walk humbly with God. But God, seeing our sinful nature, has chosen to bring us to Heaven by a supreme, sovereign, unconditional grace—an abstract legal maneuver not actually dependent on any change in our personality or behavior. Grace is grace, and if we attempt to mix works with grace, then grace no longer is grace.
The idea seems to be that God gave us numerous commandments under the new covenant. But He understands we cannot obey Him and so He saves us by grace (defined as an unconditional pardon). This is our tradition and it is totally false. It is no wonder Christian people do not take the biblical commandments seriously.
What kind of Father would command his children to practice certain behaviors and then teach the child He does not expect to be obeyed? Our heavenly Father would never do such a thing. All He has commanded us to do He expects us to do. He has given us access to His very Presence through the blood of Christ so we may receive grace to help us keep His commandments. Any other interpretation of the new covenant is unthinkable and an affront to God's righteous Nature.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Romans 11:6)
The problem in our thinking is, we understand Paul to be speaking to Gentiles about a replacement for righteous behavior. Rather, Paul was speaking to Jews about the replacement for the Law of Moses!
If we say that grace replaces righteous behavior, then we defeat the whole purpose of the new covenant.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
God has ordained that we should walk in good works, that we should practice righteousness, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Hebrews 8:10)
"The covenant that I will make with the house of Israel"! Do you see how the new covenant is addressed first to Jews, that they should practice righteousness? The new covenant applies to Gentiles only as we become a part of the one Seed of Abraham through our marriage to Christ.
To be continued.