A dear friend of mine has some of the most interesting and deeply thought out questions!
This morning when I opened up my Yahoo Messenger, this comment and question regarding grace as an excuse, or law, was posted in my message window:
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I’m reading in Romans 2 about the law. It’s no wonder there is such a pendulum swing on the conclusions we’ve all drawn in our own hearts…. Look at verse 31… “Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.” (NASB)
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6:59 PM
Nullify: To render or declare legally void or inoperative. to nullify a contract. To deprive something of value or effectiveness; make futile or of no consequence.
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7:01 PM
Establish: To found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis. To install or settle in a position, place, business, etc. To show to be valid or true; prove: to establish the facts of the matter. To cause to be accepted or recognized. To bring about permanently.
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7:11 PM
So HOW do ‘we establish the Law’ and still preach grace through faith? It’s like everyone I hear talk about this either goes way over into law that you can’t hardly breathe without being in sin or so far over into grace that if you mention what the Bible teaches about our behavior and choices in life, they accuse you of living under law. I want to know because I don’t know how to answer when this discussion comes up or when I’m questioned concerning what I believe about following Christ. What does it mean (practically speaking) that the law is not nullified, but that WE establish it?
The question arises from our many conversations about various doctrines we’ve encountered which have stomped people’s faith or seemingly gave a person a free ticket to sin as they pleased, because it was all “under the blood.”
Rather than just state what I think … I want to hear what YOU think? Feel? Believe? Have you encountered this in your Christian walk? How would you answer?