by Wayne Jackson<\/p>\n
“Why do some insist that Christians are ‘under law’ today? We are not under law, but grace. The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus\u00a0(John 1:17).”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We must respectfully point out that the question recorded above reflects a serious misunderstanding of the nature of both law and grace. And it misrepresents the nature of the religious system to which men are amenable today.<\/p>\n
It is a tragedy of enormous magnitude that some, waving the banner of grace, argue that they are free from the constraints of sacred law, and thus are at liberty to forge their own route along the religious terrain.<\/p>\n
One cannot but be reminded of Jude’s indictment of certain persons who pervert God’s “grace” to accommodate their own sensual goals\u00a0(Jude 4).<\/p>\n
John 1:17 – Law and Grace<\/h2>\n
The beloved apostle records these words in\u00a0John 1:17:<\/p>\n
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.<\/em>“<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Here, the terms “law” and “grace” are employed to designate the predominant systems of divine, written revelation-namely the two covenants.<\/p>\n
The first covenant was that given through Moses at Sinai, commonly known as the “law of Moses.” The second was a universal covenant for mankind that was issued from Jesus Christ and was ratified by the Lord’s death (Matthew 26:28).<\/p>\n
Jeremiah referred to these respective systems as “the covenant” that Jehovah made with the “fathers” when he brought them out of Egyptian bondage, and the “new covenant” which later would be worldwide in scope (Jeremiah 31:31-34).<\/p>\n
The writer of the book of Hebrews referred to these laws as the first and the second”\u00a0(Hebrews 8:7), or the old and the new\u00a0(Hebrews 8:13).<\/p>\n
In the text under review (John 1:17), the two covenants are designated respectively as “law” and “grace.” And there is a very logical explanation for these appellations. It has to do with the prevailing themes characteristic of these systems.<\/p>\n
The function of the Mosaic law was as follows:<\/p>\n
\n
- To demonstrate that the violation of divine law separates the perpetrator from God\u00a0(Isaiah 59:1-2).<\/li>\n
- To declare that written law is needed to define sin\u00a0(Romans 7:7).<\/li>\n
- To show, by recorded precedent, that sacred justice requires that a penalty be paid for law-breaking\u00a0(Romans 3:26; I Corinthians 10:5ff).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
On the other hand, the dominant design of the New Covenant is to stress the\u00a0redemptive mission\u00a0of Christ as the only remedy for the human sin problem\u00a0(Matthew 26:28; I Corinthians 15:3).\u00a0The wonderful plan of salvation is the result of Heaven’s grace\u00a0(Ephesians 2:8-9), not human merit.<\/p>\n
No richer term, than that of grace, could be employed as a synecdoche (the part put for the whole) for the summation of God’s thrilling scheme of redemption. It is entirely reasonable, therefore, that these two systems should be set forth in a contrasting fashion, such as law and grace.<\/p>\n
Abusing the Text<\/h2>\n
It is a baffling mystery as to how anyone, with even a cursory knowledge of Scripture, should not understand that there was an abundant measure of grace under the former regime.<\/p>\n
Noah found “grace” in the eyes of the Lord long before the Mosaic system was birthed\u00a0(Genesis 6:8), but it was not the modern sort of cheap grace that disavows obedience (Genesis 6:22; cf. Hebrews 11:7).<\/p>\n
Scores of Old Testament passages stress the pouring out of Jehovah’s grace in ancient times upon those who responded in obedience to his will\u00a0(cf. Exodus 33:13; Deuteronomy 7:12; Jeremiah 31:3).<\/p>\n
It is no surprise that many today are ready to repudiate the idea that man is responsible to sacred law. Outlaws eschew law!<\/p>\n
The reality is, this irresponsible suggestion – that folks today are “under grace” as\u00a0opposed\u00a0to law – is so trifling that it would scarcely be worthy of a rebuttal were it not for the fact that it is so common.<\/p>\n
The notion has absolutely no sanction in Scripture.<\/p>\n
No Law Today?<\/h2>\n
Were it the case that man is not under law in this era of time, then it would follow necessarily that no such thing as sin would exist today, for sin is a transgression of the law\u00a0(I John 3:4).<\/p>\n
As Paul once noted, where there is no law, there is no sin (Romans 4:15).<\/p>\n
By way of contrast, since it obviously is the case that men (even Christians) do sin in this era\u00a0(I John 1:8-2:2), the compelling implication is that there is a divine law to which men now are amenable.<\/p>\n
The Christian-Era Law of God in Prophecy<\/h2>\n
The Old Testament prophets, in previewing the coming of the Christian age, spoke of the current dispensation as one where the law of God would be obligatory.<\/p>\n
Isaiah, for instance, spoke of the days of the new covenant, when Jehovah’s “law” would go forth from Zion (Isaiah 2:2-4). The term “law” renders an original term suggesting “instruction” considered as a “rule of duty” [Young, 1965, p. 106].<\/p>\n
Similarly, when Jeremiah spoke of the “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31ff), he made it the equivalent of God’s “law,” which would take up residence in man’s heart\u00a0(Jeremiah 31:33).<\/p>\n
A King Is on His Throne<\/h2>\n
When Jesus Christ is repeatedly depicted as a king in the biblical record, clearly the concept is set forth that he exercises an\u00a0authority\u00a0to which men are expected to comply.<\/p>\n
If this is not law, there is no meaning to such terms as king, rule, reign, submit, obey, etc.\u00a0(see Matthew 2:2; 28:18; Luke 19:14,27; Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-10; Hebrews 5:9; Revelation 1:5; 19:16).<\/p>\n
Law Respected By Apostles<\/h2>\n
The inspired writers of the New Testament viewed the authority of the regime of Christ as one of law.<\/p>\n
Our freedom from the condemning effect of sin is the result of our submission to the “law of the Spirit”\u00a0(Romans 8:2). The expression “law of the Spirit” is the same as the gospel, the new covenant system.<\/p>\n
It is “of the Spirit” because it was conveyed by the Spirit’s direction. It is designated as law because it is an “expression of the divine will” and a “rule of conduct” [Lard, n.d., p. 247].<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Paul acknowledged that he was “under law to Christ<\/em>”\u00a0(I Corinthians 9:21). Additionally, to the Galatians he gives this admonition:<\/p>\n
“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the\u00a0law of Christ<\/em>”\u00a0(Galatians 6:2).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Finally, if the inspired James is not referring to the present order of things, when he alluded to the “perfect law”\u00a0(James 1:25),\u00a0of what was he speaking?<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
A consideration of the foregoing facts ought to enable the conscientious Bible student to see\u00a0John 1:17\u00a0in a balanced light.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, it should forever banish the absurd notion that our modern world is exempt from the restraints of sacred law.<\/p>\n
REFERENCES<\/h3>\n
Lard, Moses. n.d.\u00a0Commentary on Romans<\/em>. Cincinnati, OH: Standard.<\/p>\n
Young, E. J. 1965.\u00a0The Book of Isaiah<\/em>. Vol. I. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Wayne Jackson “Why do some insist that Christians are ‘under law’ today? We are not under law, but grace. The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus\u00a0(John 1:17).” We must respectfully point out that the question recorded above reflects a serious misunderstanding of the nature of both law and grace.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[48,177],"class_list":["post-48211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-grace","tag-law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":38588,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/truth-and-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":48211,"position":0},"title":"Truth and Law","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry W. Benton Today there is lawlessness going on at elevated proportions. Even churches that have claimed to be \"of Christ\" have been divided by a spirit of lawlessness. Some misuse \"we are not under law but under grace\" (Romans 6:15) to give the undiscerning a scripture on which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":95428,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/grace-and-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":48211,"position":1},"title":"Grace and Truth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bill Boyd After his presidency, Jimmy Carter returned to his home in Plains, Georgia, and taught a Sunday School class at the Maranatha Baptist Church. His book, \"Sources of Strength,\" is a compilation of his Sunday School lessons. He did not condescend to the Bible's contents as one might\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93842,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-the-phrase-we-are-now-living-under-grace-incorrect\/","url_meta":{"origin":48211,"position":2},"title":"Is the phrase “We are now living under grace” incorrect?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is the phrase, \"We are now living under grace,\" incorrect? Answer: The phrase is based on Romans 6:14, but to understand it properly, let's look at the context: \"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62632,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/grace-and-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":48211,"position":3},"title":"Grace and Law","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 11, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 1:14-17 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0False ideas don\u2019t always die. They end up getting recycled at a later time when the present generation has forgotten the teachings of the past which showed the ideas to be false. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I remember from childhood a big debate over the role\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35755,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-it-mean-that-grace-and-truth-came-by-jesus\/","url_meta":{"origin":48211,"position":4},"title":"What does it mean that grace and truth came by Jesus?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello Jeff, I came across these beautiful words from John 1:16-17\u00a0 \"And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.\" Can you explain, what does it really means that grace and truth came\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63540,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-teaching-of-grace\/","url_meta":{"origin":48211,"position":5},"title":"The Teaching of Grace","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 3, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Titus 2 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When you talk to people in the denominations, much is made about the Grace of God \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Emphasis is place on God\u2019s grace - Ephesians 2:8-9 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To the point that if any mention is made of men needing to accept the offered gift,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48211"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48211\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}