Here are some thoughts on the difference between Law (our performance) and Grace (His performance). I wrote it off the top of my head, but I know a lot of the ideas are not original to me but things I've learned from other grace teachers. (I don't know where some of the ideas came from, but I want to acknowledge Louis Smedes, Steve McVey and Rob Rufus for teaching a lot of these things.)
Law says you only get blessed if you've done everything right.
Grace says you're blessed even if you've done everything wrong.
Law is the realm of self-effort.
Grace is the realm of Christ's effort.
Law gives reward and punishment.
Grace give only free gifts with no strings attached.
Law says you're accepted on one condition: perfection.
Grace says you're accepted, no conditions, based on His perfection.
Law justifies the godly.
Grace justifies the ungodly.
Law depresses and burdens.
Grace lifts and relieves.
Law binds.
Grace frees.
Law makes us feel God is angry with us.
Grace lets us know God is happy with us.
Law says, "Earn it."
Grace says, "Receive it."
Law says, "Your redemption is only in yourself."
Grace says, "Your redemption is in Christ Jesus."
Law makes us sin-conscious.
Grace makes us Son-conscious.
Law says, "You're out because you're not good enough."
Grace says, "You're in because Jesus is good enough."
Law makes us feel unworthy.
Grace makes us feel worthy.
Law causes us to look at ourselves.
Grace causes us to look at Christ.
Law says, "You have to."
Grace says, "You want to."
Law says, "This is what you are to do."
Grace says, "This is what Jesus has done."
Law makes us shrink back in fear from God.
Grace makes us run into the arms of God.
Law focuses on us and our work.
Grace focuses on Christ and His work.
Law means striving.
Grace means resting.
Law means you're trying on your own to get right.
Grace means you're already right because of what Jesus did.
Law means you get what's coming to you.
Grace means you get what's coming to Jesus.
Law says, "It's all up to you."
Grace says, "It's all up to Jesus."
Law says, "You're rejected if you fail."
Grace says, "You'll never be rejected no matter how much you fail."
Law makes us feel separated from God.
Grace makes us know we'll never be separated from God.
Law says, "Heaven is for the deserving."
Grace says, "Heaven is for the undeserving."
Law blesses only success.
Grace blesses even failure.
Law says only the pure and worthy may come.
Grace says whoever wishes may come.
Law makes us resent God, for there's an impossible standard.
Grace makes us fall in love with God, for Jesus met the standard.
Law says, "If you sin, you better get right with God."
Grace says, "If you sin, you're still right with God."
Law says, "Do better."
Grace says, "Rest."
Law says, "You must be perfect before God."
Grace says, "You are already perfect before God."
Law says, "Try."
Grace says, "You don't have to try."
Law is conditional acceptance.
Grace is unconditional acceptance.
Law has strings attached.
Grace has no strings attached.
Law focuses on judgment and death.
Grace focuses on forgiveness and life.
Law makes us feel God is primarily concerned with our behavior.
Grace says God is primarily concerned with loving us.
Just reading over that makes me so glad to be under the New Covenant of Grace! Grace to all who stop by today...
With love,
