I want to continue our discussion on the judgments of the Lord by discussing what it means to be under grace. In Romans 6:14, we read that we are “not under law but under grace” because Jesus died for us.
When a thief was judged under Old Testament law, he was required to pay restitution. He was said to be “under the law” until his debt was paid. Once paid, he was under grace and no longer under the law’s judgment. Likewise, Jesus paid restitution for our sins. Jesus was under law when He paid for our sins at the cross. Now we are under grace.
Though the law no longer requires animal sacrifices like it did before Jesus, sacrifice is still required. That’s why, until you make the sacrifice of receiving Jesus and being born again, you are under the law. The only sacrifice now acceptable is the shed blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus. Until you offer that to God, you are under the penalties of the law. You’re under grace once the restitution has been paid.
So, do we have the right to steal because we’re under grace? As Paul said in Romans 6:15, “Certainly not!” However, much of modern Christian theology wonders if we should sin because we have grace to counteract it. Some even think they can sin more to experience more of His grace. Certainly not!
The beauty of the cross and the shed blood of Jesus is when we accept His sacrifice, we satisfy the demands of the law. Sin is lawlessness. “For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (see Romans 6:19).
The law itself could save no one—but not because it was faulty. The law was perfect, but man was incapable of adhering to it because of our fallen human nature. So, God provided another way—Jesus coming and fulfilling the law. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
We now attain righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ. That is justification by faith. If you don't believe in justification by faith, you’re in trouble. Because otherwise, you are trying to make it to heaven by your own willpower. Jesus transferred His righteousness to us when He paid for our sins on the cross. This is possible only because, when we become part of the body of Christ, we identify with His death.
Even after we receive grace, we must die to ourselves daily. Dying daily means we continually judge the flesh, since Jesus’ crucifixion was the judgment of the law against sin. So long as our flesh remains dead, we are not under judgment. We are crucified with Christ. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
As we mature in Christ, more and more areas of fleshly activity become crucified. Things that used to be temptations are no longer temptations. We have put on the mind of Christ and have become overcomers. To be justified by faith in Christ means believing we can no longer point to our good deeds as justification to let us into heaven. No, the only thing we can do is point to Jesus. Our defense will be that Jesus Christ paid the full penalty for us once we committed ourselves to Him.
There are those who try to bypass the need for agreement with and application of the blood, saying Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. This idea is a half-truth. Yes, He died for the sins of the whole world. However, the idea that people are saved before they come to repentance and agreement with Christ is false. Repentance is still required.
Some people misconstrue Romans 8:1, which says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” This does not mean God will not hold someone accountable for their sin. There is no condemnation if we are dying daily and appropriating daily the sacrifice of the cross. When we daily reckon ourselves dead to sin, we are no longer subject to the judgment of the law.
The only thing that will satisfy the demands of God’s law is the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we do not have Christ, we legally have no defense. Sometimes the law demands a death penalty. The ultimate death penalty is the second death, which is the lake of fire.
We want to experience His judgments now—when we can experience His mercy—not on the other side without mercy or when punishment will be according to the crime. However, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus Christ died to save us from eternal punishment. So, choose Christ today.
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Blessings,
Chris Reed | President & CEO
MorningStar Ministries
