Understanding Law and Grace

LAW AND GRACE

Grace is divine favor extended to those who stand guilty and condemned to die before divine law. The necessity for divine grace arises from the sinner’s inability to satisfy the demands of the law, except by his or her own death. Were it possible to change or abolish the divine law, there would be no need for grace. The sinner cannot bridge the gulf that his or her transgression of the law has made; the sinner cannot restore himself or herself to favor with God.

Law and grace are not contrary to each other. They are not mutually exclusive. Grace offers salvation from the penalty of the law, through the righteousness of Christ. It preserves both the honor and the majesty of the divine law and government, while giving life to those who have violated the law and rebelled against the government of heaven. Grace is not emancipation from the law, but it is emancipation from sin and from the penalty of the law. Grace provides salvation not by canceling the requirements of the law, but by cooperating with the law. The law condemns the transgressor; grace meets the penalty and sets the sinner free. Grace honors the law by presenting the perfect obedience of Christ in place of the sinner’s disobedience. Grace does not lessen the authority of the law, but recognizes and maintains its authority by satisfying its claims. Grace forgives, but it leads those who have been forgiven to serve God in newness of life, according to His righteous will. Grace delivers the sinner from the condemnation of the law in order that he or she may obey and honor the law by a new and holy life. The Christian is to “grow” within the sphere of God’s grace.

Of the relationship between law and grace as determining a person’s preparation for eternal life, M. B. Smith wrote: “In this life we are justified freely by His grace. . . . But in the judgment grace is not the rule by which men are justified, but they will then be judged ‘according to their works, whether they be good or bad” (Review and Herald 20:15, June 10, 1862).

To some who misunderstood the Seventh-day Adventist concept of law and grace, James White replied: “Those who represent Sabbathkeepers as going away from Jesus, the only source of justification, and rejecting His atoning blood, and seeking justification by the law, do it either ignorantly or wickedly. . . . One may observe the letter of all ten of them [the Ten Commandments]and, if he is not justified by faith in Jesus Christ, never have right to the tree of life. The gospel arrangement is plain. God’s law convicts of sin, and shows the sinner exposed to the wrath of God, and leads him to Christ, where justification for past offenses can be found alone through faith in His blood. The law of God has no power to pardon past offenses, its attribute being justice, therefore the convicted transgressor must flee to Jesus” (ibid. 3:24, June 10, 1852).

While believing that the born-again Christian will obey all of God’s requirements, motivated by love, SDAs have always repudiated the idea that their obedience is a means to salvation, and clearly affirm that this is by grace alone: “Let it be distinctly understood that there is no salvation in the law. There is no redeeming quality in law. Redemption is through the blood of Christ” (Signs of the Times 3:378, Dec. 20, 1877).

“You may observe all these precepts, to the best of your ability, conscientiously; but if you look no further than the law for salvation, you can never be saved. The hope of eternal salvation hangs upon Christ” (ibid. 379). See also Faith and Works; Justification; Law; Legalism; Sanctification.