Preamble –
Ge 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (ASV)
God’s penalty for sin/disobedience is death –
In the Old Covenant a person could be –
“in” the law of God (This refers to a physically circumcised person who had chosen to follow God)
or
“outside” of the Law of God (This refers to a physically uncircumcised person who had chosen not to follow God).
In the Old Covenant a person who wanted to follow God had to rely on the Mosaic Law.
If they followed the Law of God they would live and not die, Rm 10:5.
Keep the Law of God in the Old Covenant = Live and not Die
In the Old Covenant if a follower of God disobeyed the Law of God they effectively placed themselves “Under the authority of the Law of Moses” or “Under the Law”.
Disobey the Law of God in the Old Covenant = Under the Law of Moses
This meant that they had to then offer the appropriate sacrifices (Do the appropriate “work” of the Mosaic Law) to be forgiven of their sins.
A person was not made just by doing the “works” of the Mosaic Law, however before Jesus came the Law of Moses required them to be performed in order to obtain forgiveness.
Heb 10:8 Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law),
In the New Covenant a follower of God has had their Heart Circumcised (the Fleshly desires are removed from the Heart).
In the New Covenant those who choose not to follow God through Christ do not live, Rm 2:12.
In the New Covenant Jesus also introduced Grace, and the Grace of God teaches a person to deny ungodliness, Titus 2:11-12.
Ac 13:39 And by him (Jesus) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Jesus summarized the Law of God in Matt 22:37-40.
Matt 22:37¶ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Gal 6:2 (KJV) Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment have we from him (Jesus), That he who loveth God love his brother also.
The instruction of God’s Grace was not available in the Old Covenant.
Ro 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye (obedient followers of Christ) are not under the law, but under grace.
Obey the Law of God in the New Covenant = Live, and be under the authority/instruction of God’s grace.
Disobey the Law of God in the New Covenant = Under the Law of Christ
When a Christian violates the law of God/Christ they make themselves guilty of sin.
The authority over that person then becomes the Law of Christ, which means that they have to confess their sin to Jesus to obtain forgiveness.
The previous definitions must be kept in mind when studying verses like those that follow –
Romans 6:14 KJV — For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law (of Moses), but under grace.
Galatians 2:16 KJV — Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the (Mosaic) law shall no flesh be justified.
Main article –
It is said that a person does not have to “work” to obtain salvation.
However, in Mark 8:35 Jesus said that a Christian must lose their life to gain salvation.
Mr 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
Losing ones life is obviously a “work”.
The concept of “working” to gain salvation is sometimes confused with the concept of doing the “works of the Mosaic sacrificial law”, Under the Law.
We don’t have to perform the “works” specified in the Mosaic sacrificial law anymore.
In the New Covenant we need to do the continuing “work” of repentence, Acts 26:20. This is the truth of circumcision of the heart.
1 Corinthians 7:19 NASB — Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.
God draws or calls a man through the teaching of His “grace”, as the following verses illustrate.
Ga 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his “grace”,
God chooses or elects to save people who cooperate with the instruction of His Grace, and deny ungodliness, Titus 2:11-12.
Ro 11:5 (RSV) So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by “grace”.
Our “works” of obedience to the commands of Christ are necessary and serve the purpose of Humbling us before God. This humility is necessary to obtain God’s grace.
God’s grace teaches us to deny ungodliness, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. God grant’s us the ability to repent, but we must choose to act in accordance with this ability, Acts 11:18.
God’s grace has appeared to all men. However, He only gives His grace to those who humble themselves and do what He says.
Mankind is not capable of doing any “work” that accomplishes what the grace of God does. Our “works” simply represent an “appeal” unto God for His cleansing.
1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism (being immersed into water) now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an “appeal” to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, RSV
Ro 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The reality of the ordinance of Baptism is found in Eph 5:26.
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
By immersing ourselves in the word of God (Obedience to Christ) we are “appealing” to God for a clear conscience. If a person has a clear conscience it does not mean that they ignore their shortcomings, as is sometimes assumed. Having a clear conscience in scriptural terms means that there remains no unconfessed/unforgiven sin in a persons life, 1 Cor 4:4.
1Co 4:4 Though I am not conscious of having been in any way unfaithful, yet I do not for that reason stand acquitted; but He whose scrutiny I must undergo is the Lord. WNT
Joh 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
This means that we receive grace from God (the instruction regarding how to abstain from ungodliness) and that prepares us to receive more Grace (more ability to deny ungodliness). In other words we never stop growing/appealing for more grace.