Dear friends:
Lately I have been meditating on the "mixture" we find in some churches and fellowships, where law and grace are mixed to try to lead people to righteousness.
The only problem is -- it won't work! They are in opposition to each other. They contradict one another. The combination is toxic.
Today I discovered the phrase "extravagant grace." I love that expression! Our God is extravagant in His grace toward His undeserving children. Praise His name!
Below is an article on mixture I found there.
Jim
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Mixing Law and Grace
Bert Posted on March 3, 2010
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. (Heb 10:2)
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Heb 10:14)
We really have only two options when it comes to righteousness. We either trust in our own ability to produce righteousness (self-effort) or we can trust in the sacrifice of Christ. The writer of Hebrews draws a noteworthy contrast between the two forms of righteousness, one by works and the other by faith. Under the Levitical system (The Law), the sacrifices could never take away the consciousness of sin. This prompted man to strive and labor to earn his standing with God. This is the law at its best and we could never keep it. This is our dilemma . . . If we place ourselves under the preaching of the law we will:
1.Feel accused (John 5:45)
2.Feel Condemned and Shamed (2 Cor 3:6)
3.Feel Guilt Ridden (Rom 3:23)
4.Desire and focus on sinful things (Rom 7:5)
5.Preaching The law increases sin in our lives (Rom 5:20)
6.Feel enmity – at odds with God (Eph 2:15)
7.Sin Strengthens its foothold in our lives (1 Cor 15:56)
8.We are deceived into thinking we can live this way (Rom 7:11)
Unfortunately, some believers still try to live under the law because they do not understand what happened at the Cross. The New Covenant is not an improved Old Covenant. Jesus did not die so that you could keep the law! Jesus fulfilled the Law at the Cross. The New Covenant is very different from the Old covenant my friend. It is a Covenant of faith not of works. It is based on what Jesus did, not what you do.
The Gospel of Grace is very hard for us as humans to grasp because it defies the laws of logic and reasoning that we see and experience every day in the world. It is also difficult because we are so programmed to hearing the law preached. The Gospel is called the gospel of peace (Rom 10:15) and the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24), yet we seldom hear it preached in clarity. The finished work of Christ is the ONLY method that produces righteousness.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.
(Isaiah 32:17)
If we preach and teach behavior modification, and performance based Christianity (another form of the law) as the means of righteousness; then it will be almost impossible for us to live in the peace of God. I ran the treadmill of religion for twenty years and about wore myself out. During that time, I never had a conscious abiding peace in my life. One day I would be up and the next day I would be down, always living under the cloud of self-condemnation. Even though I knew about the grace of God, I preached and taught a mixture of both law and grace. I now realize that the vast majority of the church is selling this same gospel today. Mixing law with grace is very dangerous. This is what the Apostle Paul was dealing with in the churches of Galatia. Paul said that mixing the law with grace was synonymous with witchcraft.
O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom–right before your very eyes–Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? (Galatians 3:1)
Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [ Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] (Galatians 3:2)
Mixing law with grace is like pouring arsenic on your food and eating it. It’s like trying to mix oil and water. The two just do not belong together. If you are sitting in a church and listening to “do-do” teaching that tells you must do something to earn God’s favor and blessing in your life … run for the door. What you just heard is not the gospel. You do not need to try to get what is already yours. Jesus provided for you a death and righteousness.
I do not make the grace of God of no effect: because if righteousness is through the law, then Christ was put to death for nothing. (Gal 2:21 )
Live Loved – Bert
(From http://www.extravagantgrace.org/?p=424.)