LAW OR GRACE?

Romans 8:3–4 (NASB95)
3 "For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

1 Timothy 1:9–10 (NASB95)
9 "Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers
10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching."

Based on these scriptures, the requirements of the LAW are still expected to be fulfilled which would apply to both believers and non-believers (to all peoples) with the exception that believers have fulfilled the requirements of the law by proxy, that is, they have placed their faith in the Lord who fulfilled the Law FOR them and AS them (as covenantal representative).

For unbelievers, the requirement is the same which would indicate that God judges the world according to His moral law (the Ten Commandments) that is revealed first through their conscience (knowing the difference between right from wrong) which at the same time, should cause them to recognize that they need help from God because, in themselves, they cannot do it.

However, when unbelievers take a step further and ridicule the preaching (or the sharing) of the gospel (good news of what God has done through Christ) and right out reject it, they are condemning themselves because they are responsible before God to fulfill the law perfectly or be condemned.

Should we then believe that preaching the law to unbelievers is correct because it exposes their guilt and hypocrisy, or should we share the grace of God that draws them to the Lord? Which of the two methods is most effective? *

*This thread is intended to engage in healthy discussions. 🤠


.

LAW OR GRACE?


The Law set the stage and laid the backdrop. It shows us our sinfulness and our need for a Saviour.

Romans 3:10
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”



The Atonement of Jesus gives us a way, the Only Way.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

>

The Law set the stage and laid the backdrop. It shows us our sinfulness and our need for a Saviour.

Romans 3:10
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

The Atonement of Jesus gives us a way, the Only Way.

My question was: Should we then believe that preaching the law to unbelievers is correct because it exposes their guilt and hypocrisy, or should we share the grace of God that draws them to the Lord? Which of the two methods is most effective?

What do you think brother?

Depends on how the Spirit leads. Some are already under conviction of their sins. I like what it says in Jude.

Jude 1
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Maybe just the statement that all are sinners would resonate with some.

Romans 3
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;


The NT Gospel itself makes it abundantly clear that we need a Savior, methinks.

>

Depends on which law. Law of Moses? Nope. Law of Christ? Yes.

My view -----

The law was given to the Jews only -----the law was not for the Gentiles -----The Gentiles were not included in God's chosen -----so the Law was not preached to the Gentiles -----the Gentiles were a doomed Nation

The New Covenant of Grace was preached to the Gentiles who were not under the law -----Paul was given the special task to preach the Good News to the Gentile Nation ------

The Gentiles were grafted into the sheep fold because of the Jews refusing to accept that Jesus was the Messiah -----and God was hoping by preaching the Good News to the Gentiles that it would spark the Jews to leave the law and accept the new Covenant of Grace -----but that did not happen -----

So we who are Gentiles should be very grateful to the Jews as only because of them were we Grafted into receiving God;s Graced gift of salvation ------

So the Law should not be preached at all ---in my view -----only the Good News should be preached ---

No one can keep the law and Jesus fulfilling the law was not fulfilling it so we could be saved by Him keeping the law ---He fulfilled to so he could bring in the New and better Covenant -----it fulfilled a prophecy to get rid of the law and bring in Grace ------

The unbelieving Gentiles today who refuse to accept Jesus have a conscience and know when they do right from wrong and will perish without the law of Moses ------

The Jews who still try and live by the Law ---will be judged and condemned by the Law in their end ---


This scripture sums up the law and what happens to Jews and Gentiles

Romans 2:11-16

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

11 For God shows no partiality [[a]undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another].

12 All who have sinned without the Law will also perish without [regard to] the Law,
and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged and condemned by the Law.

13 For it is not merely hearing the Law [read] that makes one righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Law who will be held guiltless and acquitted and justified.

14 When Gentiles who have not the [divine] Law do instinctively what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, since they do not have the Law.

15 They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts and are operating there, with which their consciences (sense of right and wrong) also bear witness; and their [moral] [b]decisions (their arguments of reason, their condemning or approving [c]thoughts) will accuse or perhaps defend and excuse [them]

16 On that day when, as my Gospel proclaims, God by Jesus Christ will judge men in regard to [d]the things which they conceal (their hidden thoughts).
Read full chapter

There is the "law" as in the ordinances of a priesthood. And then there is the "Law" which is righteousness. The "law" is the letter that points to the spirit of the "Law". The law of Moses is a set of ordinances, the Law of God is righteousness.


They are two different things. Look back at the translation you have chosen. NASB95 intentionally capitalizes instances of "Law" and intentionally leaves other instances lowercase. Christians are people of the Law through the law of Christ. OT saints were people of the Law through the law of Moses or Moses's successors (ordinances of old priesthoods which are now obsolete. Christ is now the eternal Chief Priest in the current everlasting priesthood).

16 On that day when, as my Gospel proclaims, God by Jesus Christ will judge men in regard to [d]the things which they conceal (their hidden thoughts).

Read full chapter[/QUOTE]

Great, but now, could you answer my question? So far no one has, perhaps you would like to be the first one:

Should we be preaching the law to unbelievers is correct because it exposes their guilt and hypocrisy, or should we share the grace of God that draws them to the Lord? Which of the two methods is most effective?

Which of the two, do you think we should use when sharing the gospel with unbelievers?

You are creating a FALSE DICHOTOMY. The Gospel says that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save SINNERS". So unless the hearers of the Gospel hear the meaning of "sinners" and "sin" and its consequences, why would they care whether there is a Savior by the grace of God?

And since "sin is the transgression of the Law" it follows that all of this must be preached for a full and proper biblical presentation of the Gospel. The problem to day -- by and large -- is that the Gospel is not being preached fully and biblically. The absolute necessity of repentance for the remission of sins is not being preached properly.

As to effectiveness, that is entirely in God's hands since the Holy Spirit is the one who uses the Gospel to convict and convince sinners.

Both law and gospel. All scripture is profitable.

Deuteronomy 27:26
‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ”

Galatians 3: 10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.

James 2:10
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.


so question. Sonce perfection is the requirement of the law. How can we keep it? why are people wanting to put us under the burden that no one (but Christ) has ever kept?

we need GRACE because we have failed and will continue to fail to keep the LAW

Grace

Preaching the law of Christ, yes. Grace is a part of this.

The actual method of getting the message across may vary. Even Paul changed his behaviour to suit his audience.

If your question was about old law, no, there is no purpose for that.