Law or Grace?

Scholars have long debated Paul’s view on the law, whether he advocated for a legalistic religion or theology of grace. The two most prominent views on Paul have been the traditional (Reformation) and New Perspective. The Reformation view represents justification by faith, while the New Perspective gives the view of salvation by grace alone. However, the debate is whether it is still necessary to follow the law as a believer in Jesus Christ under the New Covenant. The answer is a resounding, “Yes.”

In the days of the early church and first-century Judaism, keeping the law was not seen as a means of earning salvation. Instead, it was an expression of a believer’s “holy identity” as the covenant people of God.[1] According to Paul’s writings, it was the act of love that they showed toward God by keeping His commandments, representing a proper Reformation perspective of the law.

When Paul writes about the law, especially in the Epistle to the Romans, he does not necessarily talk about the Mosaic law alone. Frequently, Paul alludes to the law that is prophesied by Jeremiah, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it” (Jer. 31:33).[2] The traditional view of Paul does not instigate the need for a legalistic mindset or a merit theology.

The modern-day church has often mistaken the Reformation view as legalistic when, in reality, it is the act of obedience to the heart of God and His commandments. This obedience is made possible by the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (Rom. 8:1-8). Paul himself says that he “joyfully concur[s] with the law of God in the inner man” (Rom. 7:22). He also says that Gentiles who follow the law without having the written Law have the “work of the Law” written on their hearts (Rom. 2:14-15).

As one looks at the New Perspective, it is easy to disregard the law altogether. This view has given way to a more extreme view of grace. This perspective has denied the fact that Paul used justification by faith as his central message.[3] One of the ideas that first created the New Perspective was the belief that “faith in Christ did away with all law-keeping.”[4] However, this does not account for why Paul commends the law and even calls it “holy and righteous and good” (Rom. 7:12).

The Word of God expresses the character and will of God through His commandments and is essential to honoring Him.[5] Believers need to understand the fine line between a healthy, loving devotion toward God and legalistic obedience to the commandments of God. One must realize that salvation is a free gift from God that is unearned by human merit, which is why Paul clearly states, “it was for freedom that Christ set us free” (Gal. 5:1). If a believer relies on rules and law alone, it is an abandonment of the true message of the gospel (Gal. 5:4). Believers must obey the law that the Holy Spirit has written upon their hearts out of love for the Father. They must also follow the law because they have been set free by the sacrifice of Jesus.

Bibliography

Elwell, Walter A., and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013. 

Silva, Moises, ed. “Νόμος.” New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014.

Stacy, Dr. Robert Wayne. “The New Perspective on Paul.” (lecture in NBST 520 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA).

[1] Robert Wayne Stacy, “The New Perspective on Paul” (lecture in NBST 520 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA), 3:08-3:18. [2] Moises Silva, ed., “Νόμος,” New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014). [3] Walter Elwell, Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 250. [4] Ibid. [5] Ibid, 278.

* This post was originally submitted as an assignment for NBST 520 at Liberty University on April 15, 2021.