True or False: Grace is harder than Law

[votivesoul]

In the OT, because the law of sin could never be broken, and the body of sins could not be destroyed, a person could certainly feel contrition, and remorse for any sin they committed, and go to the priest and offer the necessary sacrifice. But that was it.

Not until Jesus came and said "sin no more", and offered His blood as atonement, and with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, could the law of sin be broken, and the body of sins destroyed.

What this means is, under the OT, a person was stuck in their sins, no matter how hard they tried. The call to an absolutely pure, sin-free life wasn't given because it wasn't possible. The stained conscience ever remained stained.

Under grace, the call is indeed given, and the expectation is sinlessness.

No more excuses under grace! God's divine power has been given to us, and with it, all things necessary so that we may live a life of godliness.

This is such a higher standard that OT law.

Yes, by walking in the Spirit, trusting the Lord, and not the arm of the flesh, this becomes possible.

But where does judgment begin? At the house of God, right? And what saith the Apostle?

"If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear" (1 Peter 4:13).

Here, Simon Peter makes it abundantly clear, that in this New Covenant of Grace, it is very difficult for even the righteous to be saved.

You can check all the translations and Greek words you want right here:

http://biblehub.com/1_peter/4-18.htm

It means what it means, folks.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

In the OT, because the law of sin could never be broken, and the body of sins could not be destroyed, a person could certainly feel contrition, and remorse for any sin they committed, and go to the priest and offer the necessary sacrifice. But that was it.

No. Psalm 5 proves that is not true.

Not until Jesus came and said "sin no more", and offered His blood as atonement, and with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, could the law of sin be broken, and the body of sins destroyed.

What this means is, under the OT, a person was stuck in their sins, no matter how hard they tried. The call to an absolutely pure, sin-free life wasn't given because it wasn't possible. The stained conscience ever remained stained.

God called his people to love him with all their heart, soul, and might, and love their neighbour as themselves.

Under grace, the call is indeed given, and the expectation is sinlessness.

No more excuses under grace! God's divine power has been given to us, and with it, all things necessary so that we may live a life of godliness.

This is such a higher standard that OT law.

Higher standard? No. The purpose of the new covenant is to bring about the 'standard' that the law could not bring about, but which the law could only identify. There is, however, this: 'how much sorer punishment do you suppose shall he be thought worthy who has trodden the Son of God underfoot' etc.

Yes, by walking in the Spirit, trusting the Lord, and not the arm of the flesh, this becomes possible.

But where does judgment begin? At the house of God, right? And what saith the Apostle?

"If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear" (1 Peter 4:13).

Here, Simon Peter makes it abundantly clear, that in this New Covenant of Grace, it is very difficult for even the righteous to be saved.

The difficulty is not due to the nature of either grace or the law, but to man. God has made it easy to be saved: just believe, and all things are possible. But man complicates things with his unbelief and sin.

Again, the apostles never spoke of salvation by grace as being harder than law, they never spoke of the new covenant as being harder than the old. Under law the Gentiles had 'no hope'. Under grace they do. How is that harder?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Esaias

No. Psalm 5 proves that is not true.

How does Psalm 5 disprove this? It only shows mercy of God for people who fail. That is i fact why there were a multitude of sacrifices. God demanded obedience, and failure was expected, so he implemented sacrifices for forgiveness. Not all sis could be forgiven though, which was why some resulted in stoning.

But the law of sin could indeed NOT be broken under law. That's why Paul asked for deliverance! The law of sin manifested whenever Paul tried to do good and saw evil result instead.

God called his people to love him with all their heart, soul, and might, and love their neighbour as themselves.

But He did not say SIN EVER AGAIN. He told the adulterous woman to sin no more.

Higher standard? No. The purpose of the new covenant is to bring about the 'standard' that the law could not bring about, but which the law could only identify. There is, however, this: 'how much sorer punishment do you suppose shall he be thought worthy who has trodden the Son of God underfoot' etc.

I one sense, correct. But in another sense, the higher standard in the New is STOP SINNING. And law could not succeed in that while Grace can.

The difficulty is not due to the nature of either grace or the law, but to man. God has made it easy to be saved: just believe, and all things are possible.

Right, which is why Law cannot be kept perfectly without ability to maintain refraining from sin.

But man complicates things with his unbelief and sin.

More than that. Man complicates it by exerting will power to obey God without leaning on God's strength for empowerment.

Again, the apostles never spoke of salvation by grace as being harder than law, they never spoke of the new covenant as being harder than the old. Under law the Gentiles had 'no hope'. Under grace they do. How is that harder?

Under grace we have to stop leaning on flesh, and that to me is the hardest thing of all , since we're conditioned from birth to tyr OUR best without God's help.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Under grace we have to stop leaning on flesh, and that to me is the hardest thing of all , since we're conditioned from birth to tyr OUR best without God's help.

So the 'hard' lies in us, not grace or the law.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Esaias

So the 'hard' lies in us, not grace or the law.

Right!