As with most themes or topics, the Bible deals with law and grace in a deep way and there is a complex tension between them.
Christians often focus on one at the expense of the other.
At the risk of oversimplification, I suggest that one will often find an excessive focus on doctrine, the wrath of God and the law (understood as the rules God has given in the Bible) all occurring together within certain Christians and church groups versus an excessive focus on doctrine-free living, the kindness of God and grace in other groups.
A range of disputed issues.
For example, in classes I have taught at Bible Colleges, I have experienced Christians who belong to churches where eating pork is forbidden, in obedience to Old Testament laws. I have been astounded that the pastors have either not read or not understood the clear New Testament, New Covenant updating of that temporary law (Heb 9:10; Col 2:16-17; Mar 7:18-19; Act 10:14-15).
However, not all question of Old Covenant laws (and rules and regulations in general) are as obviously and easily resolved. I have come across a range of confused beliefs around many issues, including the consumption of alcohol, having a tattoo, observing the Sabbath, or watching secular movies.
Is this simply being petty?
For those on the grace and freedom side these issues may seem absolutely petty and completely beside the point. They will quickly think of a scripture like Romans 14:16-17:
Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. (17) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (Rom 14:16-17)
We are not let off the hook that easily.
However, one should not take these two verses out of context. If one reads the whole of Romans 14, one sees that the truth that the Kingdom of God is not about food and external regulations, but about life and love, is a two-edged sword. This two-edged knowledge means that because the Kingdom of God is greater than food and drink, this could just as easily mean that you should deny yourself this innocent pleasure for a greater good as that you should be free to partake of it.
Verses 21 and 22 from the same chapter of Romans show that the issue is more complex. It introduces the possibility of denying something that is good in itself for a greater good, and it warns against being too open, boastful, quick, or glib in the freedoms we have.
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. (22) So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. (Rom 14:21-22)
We are therefore not freed from the hard work of reading the whole of Romans 14 and reading that in the context of reading the whole Bible and reading the whole Bible in the context of our relationship with God.
And our relationship with God means that everything we choose to partake of or deny ourselves is something we do or don’t do because we believe it is pleasing to God and part of the fruitful, wise choosing we undertake as we enjoy our relationship with God and work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:12).
Discerning choices are not petty or burdensome.
It is interesting to note that this Phillipians 2:12 verse on fear and trembling (Php 2:12-13) is immediately followed by verse 13, which shows that this is a joyful, grace-based thing, done with God’s power and motivation operating in and with us: Php 2:13 “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Everywhere we look in Scripture, then, we find this mysterious tension between law and grace, between God’s Sovereign action and our responsible behaviour, between Calvinism and Arminianism.
Discerning choices are a vital and joyful part of mature spirituality.
Understanding the relationship between those aspects of the Old Testament / Old Covenant laws that have fallen away or been replaced and fulfilled versus those that have not and understanding the nature of grace and how it conquers as well as forgives sin are foundational beliefs for all Christians.
We will never progress to Christian maturity and fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives without grasping this.
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, (2) instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (3) And God permitting, we will do so. (Heb 6:1-3)
The Bible’s nuanced interweaving of law and grace.
The term “LAW” does not disappear from the vocabulary of the New Testament. The Old Covenant law of death, weakened by sinful human nature (Rom 8:3), is replaced with the New Covenant law of life (Heb 8:6-13). We are liberated by our identification with the death and resurrection with Jesus (Rom 6:4-8), making us a new creation (2 Co 5:17), to follow God’s perfect, eternal laws in the new way of the spirit, not in the old way of the flesh (Rom 8).
The following Scriptures give us an idea of the complexity of the issue and how both grace and law can be misinterpreted and misused.
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Gal 5:4)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (2) because through Christ Jesus the LAW OF THE SPIRIT who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, (4) in order that the RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1-4)
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the LAW THAT GIVES FREEDOM, (13) because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (Jas 2:12-13)
To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under CHRIST’S LAW), so as to win those not having the law. (22) To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. (23) I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1Co 9:21-23)
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (4) For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. (Jud 1:3-4) For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. (12) It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (13) while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, (14) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (15) These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. (Tit 2:11-15)
