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Under the Law? Or Under Grace?

riotWe live in an age of obstinate rebellion and defiance. 

Sin has prevailed in this world since the fall of Lucifer.  Satan has broken the Heavenly law and now wants all men to defy Yahuwah as well.  But will he succeed?

Satan has employed a multitude of tactics to encourage Yahuwah's people to break the divine law.  The most effective method has been through infiltrating our beliefs to convince us that we no longer need to keep Yahuwah's law.

Many Christians profess high regards for Yahushua and His word; yet, little do they know that some of their beliefs are blindly misleading them to support Satan's rebellion.

The concept of "law and grace" is often misunderstood and, consequently, has caused many to stumble.  An erroneous understanding of how divine grace relates to the law has led millions of professed Christians to believe that they no longer need to keep the Commandments.

To free ourselves of this error, we must understand what it means to be "under grace" according to Scripture.  Does grace mean we no longer need to keep the Ten Commandments?

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Yahuwah forbid... (See Romans 6:1-2.)

Scripture is clear: We should not continue to sin because of grace.

But what is sin?

". . . sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4)
 

sin = the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4)

Grace, then, does not free us to break the Commandments, for sin by definition is the transgression of Yahuwah's law.  To suggest that grace frees us from having to observe the 10 Commandments would be to suggest that grace is a license to sin!  Yahuwah forbid.

The Bible says more about breaking the law [sin]:

"The wages of sin is death . . ." (Romans 6:23)

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)

Keeping the law is clearly important.  But on the other hand, we cannot be saved just by keeping the law:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight . . ." (Romans 3:20)

Scripture is clear that no one will be saved by the deeds of the law.  How then are we to be saved?  How does the law relate to grace?  Revelation 14:12 tells us that the saints will be those who keep the commandments AND have the faith of Yahushua.  It is only by Yahuwah's grace that they are able to keep the law.

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of Yahuwah, and the faith of Yahushua. (See Revelation 14:12.)

under graceA commonly misunderstood verse used to explain grace:

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (See Romans 6:14.)

What is this verse saying?  Before drawing any conclusions, let us continue to the next verse:

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Yahuwah forbid. (See Romans 6:15.)


QUESTION: WHICH Law are we no longer under?

There is great confusion about the law in the book of Romans and this can be addressed only by recognizing that Paul speaks of SEVEN [yes 7] different laws in his writings. However we will focus on only one in this particular study.

We must read Paul’s whole letter to the Romans to understand each part clearly in context. The LAW to which he refers in chap.6:14,15 is the law of sin and death linked by the words ‘therefore now’ in chap. 8:1,2 which is his summary/conclusion of the previous chapters. This pinpoints 'which' law and 'who' are no longer under it.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Yahushua, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Yahushua hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8: 1-2)

ANSWER: The law of SIN and DEATH.

[The LAW of SIN and DEATH is not the same as Yahuwah's eternal law.]


As we saw earlier, sin is breaking Yahuwah's law (1 John 3:4).  This verse, then, is saying "Should we break Yahuwah's law because we are under grace?"  The answer: "Yahuwah forbid." 

The law acts as a mirror to show us where we have sinned.

I had not known sin, but by the law. (See Romans 7:7.)

The law shows us where we have sinned so that we may be led to Yahushua.  We do not keep the Commandments in order to be saved.  We keep the Commandments because we are saved.  Keeping the Commandments is the fruit of our salvation, not the root.  We are saved by divine grace.

Yahushua kept the Commandments, and when we know Him, we will become more like Him.

"He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4)

The saints are those "that keep the commandments of Yahuwah, and the faith of Yahushua." (Revelation 14:12)

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26)

man being pulled over by the police for breaking the lawA car was speeding and was pulled over for breaking the law.  The driver who was speeding should have been punished accordingly.  But upon asking for mercy, the cop let the driver off with only a warning.  The driver was now under grace.  Will the driver now take off breaking the law because he is under grace?  Or will he now drive more responsibly in gratitude to the grace bestowed upon him?

Bible

It all started with one sin.  Because the law had been broken, Yahushua chose to pay the penalty of death to redeem us.  So after His death, the law is no longer valid?  Yahushua, Himself, kept the Commandments.

"If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." (John 15:10)

How is our love for Yahushua revealed?

"If ye love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15)

How is our relationship with Yahushua made evident?

"He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4)

Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [lawlessness]. (See Matthew 7:22-23.)

If we truly love Yahuwah, we will continually seek His enabling grace to keep all of His Commandments.

For this is the love of Yahuwah, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. (See 1 John 5:3.)

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