Law and Grace

It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. [Galatians 6.15]

Circumcision represents the Law of Moses. It speaks for all the commandments and rituals required by the Law.

With as much fuss as the early Church had over "the Law" in the age of Grace, and all the effort discussed in the book of Acts and Paul's letter to the Church in Galatia, the Church today still fumbles with the issue of the Law versus Grace.

Paul explained the reason for this in his letter to the Galatians:

Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. [Galatians 4.1-7]

The reason people still struggle with the Law is because they remain "children" and therefore under the "guardianship" of the Law. 

Ever notice how children are often so quick to tell on each other? That's just the way the Law works in immature people.

Unfortunately, few believers ever attain a level of growth where the Law is behind them. Few ever get to the point that they are "living Christ" in the world. Far too many continue to struggle with sins detailed in the list below:

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. [Galatians 5.19-21]

If we still struggle with these sins, then we can accurately conclude that we are still "children" in our relationship with God. The Law is for the purpose of governing the sinful nature. However, when we begin to reach maturity in our relationship with God, the following list describes us:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! [Galatians 5.22-23]

You see, maturity in God means walking by and in the Holy Spirit of God. And, walking in the Holy Spirit means the fruit of the Spirit is evident in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit of God in our lives is the result of following the desires of the Holy Spirit in us (maturity) and not the desires of our sinful nature (immaturity).

Backing up just a little... Ever notice how in Galatians 5.19-21 (above) that there are two main themes found in the results of following our sinful nature? One is sexual immorality and the other is a critical, mean spirit. The reason I point this out is because the list given provides an excellent check-up list for our lives - in other words, if we are struggling with sexual sin, then it is most certain there will be critical mean-spirited actions also. And, if there are problems with anger and the likes, then sexual immorality is lurking in the corners too. 

Regardless what the manifesting symptom is, the  root problem is spiritual immaturity - not walking by the power of the Holy Spirit - not being "transformed into a new creation." And, consequently, the Law makes sexual immorality and a critical mean spirit obvious.

The Law is about human accomplishment albeit cloaked in "obedience" - obedience to that Law. But Grace is about what the Holy Spirit does through us and is cloaked in "faith" - obedience to the Holy 

Spirit.

It might be helpful to inject here that the struggle is not between "Grace" and "works." The struggle is between the works of Grace (the Holy Spirit) and the works of the Law. Immaturity is unacceptable - Paul made it clear that the immature ultimately will not inherit the Kingdom of God. It is that serious that we grow to maturity in the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives (made possible by Jesus)!!!

A "child" still struggling with childlike things because they are not living by God's Holy Spirit, will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

Father, I want to grow into a mature walk in Your Holy Spirit. I understand that a child is not yet "transformed" but one who submits to Your Holy Spirit (with evident fruit of the Holy Spirit) is indeed a "new creation." That is where I want to be.