The Law and the Gospel

What is the relationship between the gospel and the law?

Lesson 11 of 28 • Print / save PDF

Aside from the law, the gospel is God's gift of salvation and forgiveness via faith in Jesus Christ. However, salvation is only possible through faith in Jesus.

Conversely, law denotes the moral and ethical benchmarks established by God; it frequently alludes to the Ten Commandments. This lesson's focus is on how the gospel and the Law coexist harmoniously. Grab a Bible and start studying on your own.

1. 1.How extensive is God's government?

   Bible⇒ Psalms 103: 19 .

2. 2.What is the rule of His kingdom?

   Bible⇒ Psalms 103: 20 ; Psalms 119: 172; Psalms 119: 142 .

3. 3.Did God's law exist on earth before it was given at Sinai ?

   Compare Genesis 4 : 7 with 1 John 3 : 4 ; also Genesis 35 : 2-4 ; Genesis 26 : 5 ; Genesis 2 : 1- 3 ; Exodus 16 : 1; Exodus 16 : 4, 5; Exodus 16 : 27-30.

4. 4.How was the law given?

   Bible⇒ Deuteronomy 4 : 12, 13 ; Exodus 24 : 12 ; Exodus 31 : 18.

5. 5.What is the nature of God's law?

   Bible⇒ Psalms 19: 7; Proverbs 6 : 23; Romans 7 : 12 .

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7. 6.What is the relation of the law to the sinner ?

   Bible⇒ Romans 4 : 15 ; Romans 7 : 6-8 ; Romans 5 : 13 ; 1 John 3 : 4 .

8. 7.What is the place of the law in the gospel?

   Bible⇒ Romans 3 : 19, 20; Romans 3: 31; James 2 : 8-12 ; James 1: 22- 25 ; Romans 3 : 21-24; Romans 3: 31 .

   The law is the gospel infolded; the gospel is the law unfolded. " The law is the gospel inclosed; the gospel is the law disclosed. " The law is the gospel concealed; the gospel is the law revealed. " The law is the gospel fulness delayed; the gospel is the law fulness portrayed. " The law is the gospel in minimum; the gospel is the law in maximum. " The law is the gospel contained; the gospel is the law maintained. " The law is the gospel sighted; the gospel is the law lighted. " The law is Christ designed; the gospel is Christ enshrined."—" Practical Lessons from the Experience of Israel," F. C. Gilbert, pp. 168, 169.

9. 8.Did Christ keep the commandments?

   Bible ⇉ Psalms 40: 7, 8 ; Isaiah 42 : 21; John 15 : 7-10.

10. 9.What should be our attitude toward the law ?

    Bible ⇉ John 14 : 21; 1 John 5 : 1-3 ; John 2 : 4-6.

11. 10.In what way only can we obey the law?

    Bible ⇉ Romans 8 : 1-4

    The law reveals the perfection of character required, and so gives a knowledge of sin; but it is powerless to confer the character demanded. In the gospel, the law, first written in the heart of Christ, becomes ' the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,' and is thus transferred to the heart of the believer, in whose heart Christ dwells by faith. Thus the new covenant promise is fulfilled, that the law shall be written in the heart. This is the genuine experience of righteousness by faith,— a righteousness which is witnessed by the law, and revealed in the life in harmony with the law. The gospel is thus seen to be the provision for restoring the law to its place in the heart and life of the one who believes on Christ, and accepts His mediatorial work. Such faith, instead of making void the law, establishes it in the heart of the believer. The gospel is not against the law, therefore, but upholds, maintains, and presents the law to us in Christ."—"Bible Readings for the Home Circle," pp. 410, 411.