GRACE, LAW, FAITH/WORKS, and REWARD

This morning we will be studying the relationship between Grace, Law, Faith, Works, and Reward. So many in the religious world today do not understand the relationship between Grace, Law, Faith, Works, and Reward. Many people are under the impression that where grace is present, that law and works are completely done away with. So we ask the question, "Does the presence of grace make null and void all forms of law and works?

Everyone must affirm that all saved individuals are saved by grace- Eph. 2:5, 8-9 There's no question or contention that we are saved by grace. But, does that eliminate all forms of law and works? Some say "Yes" and refer to Romans 6:14 which says "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." But what to what law is Paul refering? I believe that even a superficial reading of the context will prove that Paul is refering to the law of Moses. So are we under a law of any kind? Paul wrote in Romans 4:15 that "where there is no law, there is no transgression", and in Romans 5:13 he wrote that "sin is not imputed where there is no law." But the Romans must have been under some form of law, because he wrote in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." And John wrote in I John 3:4 that "whosoever commits sin transgesses the law, for sin is a transgression of the law." It has been said that that which proves too much proves nothing at all- if there is no law, there can be no sin, and if there is no sin, there is no need for grace.

The apostle Paul knew somewhat about law of Christ, the grace of Christ and the gospel of Christ.

In Galatians 6:2, Paul wrote "bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

In Galatians 1:6-7, Paul wrote, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ."

What is the difference in the law of Christ, the grace of Christ, and the gospel of Christ? Nothing!

In I Corinthians 14:37, Paul wrote "the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." Five verses later, Paul wrote, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which which I preached unto you, which ye also have received, and wherein ye stand, by which ye are also saved, if ye keep in memory what I have preached unto you. . ."

Thus we see that the commandments of the Lord and the gospel are one and the same.

Now, lets begin with our chart which shows the relationship between Grace, Law, Faith, Works, and Reward.