True or False: Grace is harder than Law - Page 2

KeptByTheWord · #11 08-02-2016, 09:45 AM

I think this is a great discussion.

Under the law, a person's actions determined if they were following law or not.

Under the New Covenant, not just our actions are judged, but also our intent.

For that reason, one could say that the law was easier to keep, because one could keep the law, without the heart's intent and purpose being in submission to the Lord.

Now, in the New Covenant, not just our actions are judged, but even more so, our heart's intents and purposes. That is why when Ananias and Saphira were struck down by God, and it was such a shock to the people, because they realized then that just doing a good work wasn't enough, if the intent of the heart was to sin or deceive. Both had to be in alignment now, not just the action, but also the intent of the heart. And that was a scary realization and wakeup call to the church when they understood just how serious God was about our hearts now.

So my answer to your question would initially be yes... and no. Yes, grace is harder than law, because now our intents and heart are being judged, along with our actions. But then I would have to say no... because as Ferd already said... if not for grace and mercy! We have great grace and mercy available to us now, and so while we have more to answer for now... we have greater grace and mercy available to be overcomers.

And so then, my answer would be a final... no. Grace is not harder than the law, because we have been given the power to overcome through Jesus.

Jito463 · #12 08-02-2016, 12:50 PM

I wouldn't say it's harder under grace, it's actually easier if you're walking in the Spirit. However, grace does require more of us, than the law ever did.

If you're trying to live for Christ without His Spirit, then it's an impossible task, even more so than living under the law.

mfblume · #13 08-02-2016, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jito463

I wouldn't say it's harder under grace, it's actually easier if you're walking in the Spirit. However, grace does require more of us, than the law ever did.

If you're trying to live for Christ without His Spirit, then it's an impossible task, even more so than living under the law.

Right!

shazeep · #14 08-03-2016, 06:11 AM

ok somewhere in here we should talk about the role hypocrisy might play into "harder/easier." For example, what do you teach that "overcoming" looks like?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

And so then, my answer would be a final... no. Grace is not harder than the law, because we have been given the power to overcome through Jesus.

Would any of the martyrs, Joan of Arc, agree with you here? "Overcome" means something different to...i don't know, a prosperity preacher maybe, than it does to Unregistered, perhaps.

votivesoul · #15 08-04-2016, 12:43 AM

I see a greater demand under grace, as follows:

"Lord, how many times do I forgive my brother if he sins against me? Unto seven times?"

"No, but unto seventy times seven."

Under the dictates of the Old Covenant, it was eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, life for a life, if blood was shed by man, by man would blood be shed (i.e. capital punishment).

If someone killed a family member of yours, you could pursue him or her, and if you caught up to him or her before they made it to a "city of refuge", you, as the avenger of blood, could exact retribution by your own hand.

But today, if you are struck on the cheek, turn again the other. If you are insulted, reviled, or injured in some way, you are to forgive, and surrender all rights of retribution to God. Even if someone kills your family member, you are called to peace, to release the killer from your desire for vengeance.

If you ask me, all of that is way harder than what was prescribed under the Law!

votivesoul · #16 08-04-2016, 12:46 AM

Divorce in the Old Covenant:

Hand her a "bill of divorcement" and send her back to her papa, if she displeases you in any way.

Divorce in the New Covenant:

Never, except there be fornication/adultery.

Making a marriage work no matter the cost, under grace, because it is commanded in the New Covenant, is way harder than ending a marriage at the drop of a hat, because Moses permitted it, due to the hardness of their hearts.

shazeep · #17 08-04-2016, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by votivesoul

If you ask me, all of that is way harder than what was prescribed under the Law!

the evidence might be that we still pursue law, even as Christians--we live under a (spurious) "rule of law," and even subject people who did the right thing to lawsuits on technicalities of the law, etc.