There has been an error that has been taught in the body of Christ since men began to convert from Judaism to Christianity. The early Church faced this problem and it was settled by a meeting of the Apostles in Jerusalem about two thousand years ago.

Law vs Grace

The problem was whether or not the new Gentile converts be required to follow the law of Moses which was delivered unto the Jews. The specific debate at that time, was whether or not the Gentiles (anyone who was not a Jew), should be circumcised upon their confession of Christ. This was squashed by the Apostles when they deemed it unnecessary to put this or any other precept of the Law upon the Gentile converts that may hinder their new life of faith.

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: -Acts 15:24

False: Christians are supposed to follow the commands of the entire Bible.

To say that Christians aren't supposed to follow the commands of the entire Bible may surprise you. This may encourage many a devout Christian to put this book down and consider all that's written within it as baseless. On the other hand, there are many enlightened readers who will know exactly where I am going and this will only serve to reinforce a truth that they already know. Reader, whether this is new territory or something that has been previously revealed, please read on.

Christians are supposed to read the whole Bible and learn from it. We are supposed to imitate the faith of the faithful and the prayer life of the prayerful. We are to learn lessons of obedience and from the mistakes of the Israelites. Through scriptures of the entire Bible we are to conclude that we are all sinners unable to perfectly keep the law of God.

The error today, is the teaching that Christians are supposed to follow the law of Moses when we are clearly supposed to follow the law of love (grace). Our faith in Christ makes us part of God's family and gives us unmerited (unearned) favor. We call this favor, God's Grace.

Moses, the liberator of Israel, delivered them out of the land of Egypt. He was called away from tending sheep in the region of Mt. Sinai, when God spoke to him from a burning bush. When he complained about his inability to speak, God allowed him to take along Aaron, his brother, to be a spokesman for him. He successfully led Israel out after God plagued Egypt ten times. Their departure, called the Exodus, is the title of the second book of the Bible.

Since it was through Moses that God made a covenant with the Hebrew people, the law which grew out of the Ten Commandments came to be known as "the law of Moses." The law of Moses, which required the Jew and any foreign convert to follow a strict code of rules and regulations, went beyond the Ten Commandments and stretched throughout the second through fifth books of the Bible (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy). Its writings where the standard by which they lived. Now that it has been fulfilled through Christ, what laws are we to follow?

The New Testament believer, the Christian, is under grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of God and no one can earn it. Grace is given simply because the object it is bestowed upon is loved. A standard is the object that something is measured against and the Bible is the standard for the Christian life. Now the question becomes, is it the entire Bible or only part of it? If it's part, then which part and why? Since we know that the Church is a new testament revelation, we also know that it will be judged by God's new standard. God's old standard was the law. God's new standard is grace.

Nowhere in the Old Testament is the word church mentioned because it was still a mystery of God. Likewise, God's new standard was covered until it was time to reveal it, (after the coming of Christ). We can now see that the perfect sacrifice of Christ was the fulfilling of the law. The law was only around to show man that he was unable to save himself and was in need of a savior. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice that put an end to the works of the law to all those who believe on Him.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. ¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. -Matthew 5:17,18

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. -Romans 3:19,20

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴ And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. -Galatians 3:23-25

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth -Romans 10:4

False: Since the Church is not under the law but under grace, it's unnecessary to study the Old Testament.

First of all, let's make it perfectly clear that the law is good.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple -Psalms 19:7

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. -Romans 7:12

What was it good for?

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. ²² But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ²³But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. -Galatians 3:21-25

It was not that the law was evil that Christ came to fulfill it, just that grace was better. The law of God was totally just, but grace is more than just, it's merciful. As stated earlier in Galatians 3:24, the law was our schoolmaster. This means that it can teach us very important things about God and His dealings with His people.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness -2 Timothy 3:16

This means that Christians can find instruction in both the Old and the New. This seems difficult for some to swallow because the Bible often contains instructions that are polar opposites. God has not changed His mind nor is the Bible contradictory, we just have to learn how to "rightly divide it."

To illustrate, let's look at a parent by the name of God and His two children, Israel and Christian. God tells Israel, the eldest, to cut the grass as soon as he gets home from school and tells Christian, the youngest, to wash the dishes tonight. Israel disobeys and goes outside to play. When God comes home and sees the grass uncut, He punishes Israel. What is Christian supposed to learn from this? Is Christian supposed to cut the grass or learn that God punishes disobedience? It's obvious that Christian is supposed to wash the dishes or suffer the same fate (punishment). Christian was nowhere instructed to cut the grass so it would be unreasonable for God to punish him for instructions he was never given.

Christians can learn many things about God and His standards in the Old Testament, but it's important to know how to rightly divide God's word so that we don't put commands on ourselves that God hasn't. It's for good reason that God's word says remember the Sabbath (which is Saturday) and most Christians today meet on Sunday, the day that Christ arose. In addition, the law has numerous commands about feasts, punishments, sacrifices and diets that Christians totally ignore. (When was the last time you brought a goat to church to sacrifice, celebrated the feast of booths or stoned your child for talking back to you). All of these things were part of the law but are no longer required of today's church. Christians, we are under grace and grace alone.

Grace

Grace is kindness or graciousness shown by an superior to an inferior. The same word for grace is sometimes translated "favor". The New Testament makes it clear that salvation is brought about by grace but also makes it clear that grace can be refused or even abused by man.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ² God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? -Romans 6:1-2

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. ¹⁵ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid -Romans 6:14-15

Grace is a gift of God and can not be worked for.

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace -Romans 11:5

Grace is getting what you do not deserve simply because of the love of the giver. Often, the thing that we get undeservedly, is God's mercy.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, -Ephesians 2:4

Jesus came born under the law to fulfill it so that he could introduce a dispensation of grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. -John 1:17

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: -Romans 3:24

This freedom from the law comes only after a belief in Christ Jesus. Not only does He free us from the old testament ordnance's, he saves us from the penalty of sin. He makes us new creatures and gives us new promises. The word testament is synonymous with promise. The New Testament is simply God's new promise to Christians.

False: Christians can live by both the law of Moses and the grace of Christ at the same time.

Just a simple comparison of law and grace will reveal that they cannot be contained within each other.

They are incompatible and can't be blended. Jesus taught this very thing by using examples of clothing and wine.

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. ¹⁷Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. -Matthew 9:16-17

Jesus was pointing out that it's not wise to add to something that has already begun. The pieces will be incompatible. Just like new paint will be brighter than old paint, new cloth will tear away from old cloth and new wine will burst old wine skins. God had to fulfill one law before starting another.

First there was law and now there is grace. The Bible is not contradictory nor did God change His mind.

For I am the LORD, I change not; -Malachi 3:6a

God simply gave one set of instructions to the Israelites, and another set to Christians. Here are three such examples.

Law of Resistance

The Old Testament: The Law was fair.

And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; ²⁰ Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again -Leviticus 24:19-20

The New Testament: Grace is merciful.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: ³⁹ But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also -Matthew 5:38-39

Law of Diet

Old: The Law was binding. (Certain animals were considered unclean)

Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. ⁴ These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, ⁵ The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. ⁶ And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat. ⁷Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. ⁸ And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. ⁹ These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: ¹⁰ And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. -Deuteronomy 14:3-10

New: Grace is liberating. (All animals are considered clean)

I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: ⁶ Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. ⁸ But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. ⁹ But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. ¹⁰ And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven -Acts 11:5-9

God's Holy Day

Old: A Saturday sabbath. (A day of rest)

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates -Exodus 20:8

New: A Sunday sabbath. (A day of worship)

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight -Acts 20:7

In addition to this, the Law was immediate in both blessing and cursing. It was carried out by man against man and lacked the same amount of mercy as Grace. For example, when a person was caught in adultery under the Law, they were stoned (hit with large rocks) until dead. This was done immediately by those who had witnessed it.

Grace, on the other hand, often doesn't have immediate consequences because God wants people to repent and confess their sins. In the Gospel of John 8:7 a woman was caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. He demonstrated grace by telling her accusers, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” This, by no means, is a license to sin. It's an opportunity to correct it. It should be noted that after everyone dropped their rocks and left, Jesus turned to her and said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Jesus gave her a second chance but what would happen if she was caught again?

If we have an unrepentant heart, a Christian may receive punishment while those who are unsaved will often be punished in the afterlife. Unlike the punishments of the law which may be given by man, the punishments of grace are given by God.

The Damage

The danger with mixing law and grace is that the Christian will never fully understand the Bible or what God wants for them. On one hand they will be taught “eye for an eye” and on the other to “turn the other cheek.” The Bible makes perfect sense but only if it is “rightly divided.” I believe one of the first and most major divisions of the Bible is a division between law and grace.

Sadly, there are many who consider themselves preachers of God who don't understand this concept. This will lead to doctrinal error and the teaching that Christians are to follow statues and commands that they don't. Some ministers use this to their advantage and teach things they shouldn't but back it up with misplaced scripture. Of all the biblical errors that we see today, I believe that this is the most common and the most abused. Understanding this one principle alone will clear up confusion in other teachings. (This will be proved in other sections of this book).

Keeping people under the law means that they have rejected salvation by grace. Reader, you can't be under both.