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The Law and the Believer Under Grace in New Testament

The relationship between the Law and the believer under grace is a central theme in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of Paul. The New Testament distinguishes grace from the law, presenting grace as God's forgiving mercy and the gospel itself [1]. John 1:17 explicitly states, "For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ" [2]. This highlights a fundamental shift from the Mosaic Law to the new covenant established through Christ [3].

Under the Old Covenant, the law required perfect obedience for justification, stating, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" [4, 12]. However, humanity is unable to achieve this perfect obedience [4]. The New Testament teaches that justification is not by works of the law, nor by faith and works combined, but by faith alone, and it is a gift of grace [4]. As the Apostle Paul writes, believers "are not under the law but under grace" (Romans 6:14) [12]. This means they are no longer subject to a legal system based on retributive justice that demands perfect obedience for acceptance with God [12]. Instead, they are under a system where God deals with them based on grace, not justice [12].

The concept of grace is multifaceted, encompassing God's favor, kindness, and friendship, as well as the gifts freely bestowed by God, such as miracles and prophecy, and Christian virtues [1]. The gospel itself is described as exhibiting the grace of God [6]. This grace is given by God, through Christ, and is empowered by the Holy Spirit [5].

Christian liberty, as described in the New Testament, includes freedom from the law, its curse, the fear of death, sin, and corruption [7]. This liberty is conferred by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and is proclaimed through the gospel [7]. The Apostle Paul argues that the covenant made with Abraham, which promised redemption on the condition of faith, predates the Mosaic Law and could not be invalidated by it [11]. This "covenant of grace" is the plan of salvation under which believers live [11].

Augustine, a significant patristic theologian, emphasized that the righteous individuals who lived under the Law were not truly "under the law" in the sense of being justified by it, but were rather under grace [10]. He argued that Christ came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it, and that the law itself is not to blame for human failure to keep it [9]. Augustine also noted that the grace of the New Testament was hidden within the Old [10]. Thomas Aquinas, a scholastic theologian, similarly taught that the New Law is primarily the grace of the Holy Spirit, given through faith in Christ, and that this grace is the preponderant element and basis of its efficacy [8].

The transition from being "under the law" to being "under grace" signifies a shift from a system that condemns due to inability to perfectly obey, to a system where salvation is received as a free gift through faith in Christ [13]. This does not mean that the law is abolished, but rather that its role in the believer's life changes. While the law reveals sin and points to the need for a savior, it does not provide the power to obey [13]. Grace, however, provides both forgiveness and the power to live righteously. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, explains that salvation is not through circumcision or works of the law, but "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" [14]. This grace is the means by which believers are justified and enabled to live a life pleasing to God.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Grace — (1.) Of form or person (Prov. 1:9; 3:22; Ps. 45:2). (2.) Favour, kindness, friendship (Gen. 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Tim. 1:9). (3.) God's forgiving mercy (Rom. 11:6; Eph. 2:5). (4.) The gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Rom. 6:14; 1 Pet. 5:12). (5.) Gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues (Rom. 15:15; 1 Cor. 15:10; Eph. 3:8). (6.) Christian virtues (2 Cor. 8:7; 2 Pet. 3:18). (7.) The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Pet. 1:13).”
  2. John “For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. -- John 1:17”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: New Testament — (Luke 22:20), rather "New Covenant," in contrast to the old covenant of works, which is superseded. "The covenant of grace is called new; it succeeds to the old broken covenant of works. It is ever fresh, flourishing, and excellent; and under the gospel it is dispensed in a more clear, spiritual, extensive, and powerful manner than of old" (Brown of Haddington). Hence is derived the name given to the latter portion of the Bible. (See [438]TESTAMENT.)”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justification Before God — Promised in Christ -- Isa 45:25; 53:11. Is the act of God -- Isa 50:8; Ro 8:33. Under law Requires perfect obedience. -- Le 18:5; Ro 10:5; 2:13; Jas 2:10. Man cannot attain to. -- Job 9:2,3,20; 25:4; Ps 130:3; 143:2; Ro 3:20; 9:31,32. Under the gospel Is not of works. -- Ac 13:39; Ro 8:3; Ga 2:16; 3:11. Is not of faith and works united. -- Ac 15:1-29; Ro 3:28; 11:6; Ga 2:14-21; 5:4. Is by faith alone. -- Joh 5:24; Ac 13:39; Ro 3:30; 5:1; Ga 2:16. Is of grace. -- Ro 3:24; 4:16; 5:17-21. In the name of Christ. -- 1Co 6:11. By imputation of Ch”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Grace — God is the God of all -- 1Pe 5:10. God is the Giver of -- Ps 84:11; Jas 1:17. God's throne, the throne of -- Heb 4:16. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of -- Zec 12:10; Heb 10:29. Was upon Christ -- Lu 2:40; Joh 3:24. Christ spoke with -- Ps 45:2; Lu 4:22. Christ was full of -- Joh 1:14. Came by Christ -- Joh 1:17; Ro 5:15. Given by Christ -- 1Co 1:4. Foretold by the prophets -- 1Pe 1:10. Riches of, exhibited in God's kindness through Christ -- Eph 2:7. Glory of, exhibited in our acceptance in Christ -- Eph 1:6. Is described as Great. -- Ac 4:33. Sovereign. -- R”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberty, Christian — Foretold -- Isa 42:7; 61:1. Conferred By God. -- Col 1:13. By Christ. -- Ga 4:3-5; 5:1. By the Holy Spirit. -- Ro 8:15; 2Co 3:17. Through the gospel. -- Joh 8:32. Confirmed by Christ -- Joh 8:36. Proclaimed by Christ -- Isa 61:1; Lu 4:18. The service of Christ is -- 1Co 7:22. Is freedom from The law. -- Ro 7:6; 8:2. The curse of the law. -- Ga 3:13. The fear of death. -- Heb 2:15. Sin. -- Ro 6:7,18. Corruption. -- Ro 8:21. Bondage of man. -- 1Co 9:19. Jewish ordinances. -- Ga 4:3; Col 2:20. Called the glorious liberty of the children of God -- Ro”
  8. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part of the Second Part (Prima Secundae), Of the Law of the Gospel, Called the New Law, Considered in Itself, Art. 1: Article: Whether the New Law is a written law? I answer that, "Each thing appears to be that which preponderates in it," as the Philosopher states (Ethic. ix, 8). Now that which is preponderant in the law of the New Testament, and whereon all its efficacy is based, is the grace of the Holy Ghost, which is given through faith in Christ. Consequently the New Law is chiefly the grace itself of the Holy Ghost, which is given to those who believe in”
  9. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 34. -- THE LAW; GRACE. (part 1): After saying, "Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt," observe what He adds: "Because they continued not in my covenant." He reckons it as their own fault that they did not continue in God's covenant, lest the law, which they received at that time, should seem to be deserving of blame. For it was the very law that Christ" came not to destroy, but to fulfil."(2) Nevertheless, it is not by that law that the ungodly”
  10. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 29.--THE RIGHTEOUS MEN WHO LIVED IN THE TIME OF THE LAW WERE FOR ALL THAT NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE. THE GRACE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT HIDDEN UNDER THE OLD. (part 2): extremity of heaven, and His circuit runs to the other end of heaven; and no one is hidden from His heat."[20] Out of very faith, again, was it said to Him: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness abov”
  11. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 74: gospel had been already revealed in the law and the prophets; and his definite object, in Gal. iii. 13-28 , is to prove that the covenant under which we live and according to the terms of which we are to be saved, is the identical covenant made with Abraham, in which the promise of redemption was made on the condition of faith in Him in whom all the nations of the earth were to be blessed This is a covenant anterior to the Mosaic law, and which that law could not set aside or invalidate. The covenant of grace, or plan of salvation, being ”
  12. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 24: This subject is thus presented by the Apostle: believers “are not under the law but under grace.” ( Rom. vi. 14 .) They are not under a legal system administered according to the principles of retributive justice, a system which requires perfect obedience as the condition of acceptance with God, and which says, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” They are under grace, that is, under a system in which believers are not dealt with on the principles of justice, but on t”
  13. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 6:14: For Sin shall not have dominion over you--as the slaves of a tyrant lord. for ye are not under the law, but under grace--The force of this glorious assurance can only be felt by observing the grounds on which it rests. To be "under the law" is, first, to be under its claim to entire obedience; and so, next under its curse for the breach of these. And as all power to obey can reach the sinner only through Grace, of which the law knows nothing, it follows that to be "under the law" is, finally, to be shut up under an inability to keep it, and consequen”
  14. Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 15:11: But we believe,.... Who are circumcised; the Arabic version adds, "and are sure"; for what follows is a sure and certain article of faith: that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ; not through circumcision, or by any works of the law, moral or ceremonial; but through the grace of Christ undertaking for them, assuming their nature, and dying in their room and stead; through his redeeming, justifying, and pardoning grace: salvation is by Christ; Jehovah the Father appointed him to be his salvation; he sent him, and he came to save sinners; and he has obtained sa”
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