What is the difference of living under the law and living under grace? Until Jesus came in obedience to His Father and willingly sacrificed Himself for the sins of man and provided the Holy Spirit as the earnest seal of our position in Him, man was subject to the provision made for him through the law. The principles that were true then are true now. The problem comes when we try to take a teaching specifically addressing a time of judgment under the law and applying the specifics to those living under grace. Personally, I believe a man of true faith under both covenants is proved by his continuance in that faith. I believe that those who choose to “leave” or “turn from” that faith never really possessed that faith. That principle is explained in the New Testament. John wrote about it when describing “antichrists” that would appear during the last days.
1John 2:18-19 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Peter described it in a different way.
2Pet. 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
I think some comments from my journal on verse 2Peter 2:22 apply here.
The first half of this verse is a quote from Proverbs.
Prov. 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
The second half of the verse is emphasizing the first. The whole verse emphasizes the truth of being born again and becoming a new creation. You can train a dog and clean a dog up and feed it the best of foods, but you can’t change its nature. A dog is a dog; it’s going to do the disgusting things that dogs do. You can take a pig and clean it up, but as soon as you turn the pig loose, it’s going to search for the mud. A pig likes mud.
Until we are born again and become a new creature in Christ, we are going to continue to be subject to the sin nature that we inherited from our fathers (all the way back to Adam).
2Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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Another significant distinction is regarding the purpose and presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. In the Old Testament times the Holy Spirit did not function among men of faith in the same way. Since Jesus returned to heaven, believers are privileged to possess the indwelling Holy Spirit as a “down payment” so to speak of his inheritance for eternity and as a seal of protection and preservation to get the believer to that inheritance.
2Cor. 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Eph. 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
It is God who gives us the Holy Spirit at salvation, and His gifts are irrevocable.
Rom. 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
It is also God who gives us the gift of salvation.
Eph. 2:8-8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Although I’ll never be able to explain it well this side of heaven, I know that God has said that He is not willing that any should perish and that we are responsible for making the choice to follow Him in faith and obedience or not. He is also the one that gifts us with the faith and grace to accomplish our salvation, and once He begins that good work in us through giving us that gift, He is going to finish the work He started.
Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ….
I don’t have to be able to explain it all to accept it all as true by faith. I claim the truth presented by the prophet Isaiah:
Is. 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
In both Old and New Testament times, salvation is by faith in God, and that faith is evidenced by our obedience to Him in accordance with His word.
Jer. 7:23 Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
1John 2:3-4 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
The works of the unbeliever are recorded in “the books” of records that are kept in heaven and will be used at the great white throne judgment.
Revelation 20:11–12 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
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