08/07/2026
LAW AND GRACE COMPARED
A Complete Bible Study
Introduction
One of the most important truths in Scripture is understanding the difference between Law and Grace. Many believers mix the two, resulting in confusion about salvation, righteousness, holiness, and the Christian life.
The Bible does not present Law and Grace as two different ways of salvation. Rather, it presents the Law as preparing the way for Christ, while Grace reveals the finished work of Christ.
The purpose of this study is to answer four major questions:
1. Why was the Law given?
2. What could the Law accomplish?
3. What did Christ accomplish that the Law could not?
4. How should believers live under Grace?
1. What Is the Law?
Biblically, "the Law" primarily refers to the covenant God made with Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19–24). It included commandments, sacrifices, priesthood, feast days, ceremonial regulations, and civil laws.
Paul refers to it as:
The law was given by Moses...(John 1:17)
The Law was holy, righteous, and good.
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (Romans 7:12)
The problem was never the Law.
The problem was sinful humanity.
2. Why Was the Law Given?
Paul answers clearly.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come... (Galatians 3:19)
Notice three important truths:
• The Law was added.
• It was temporary.
• It pointed to Christ, the promised Seed.
Romans explains another purpose.
By the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20)
The Law reveals sin.
It does not remove sin.
Imagine an X-ray machine.
An X-ray exposes the broken bone.
It cannot heal the broken bone.
That was the ministry of the Law.
3. The Law Cannot Justify
Paul repeatedly says:
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified... (Romans 3:20)
Again,
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ... (Galatians 2:16)
Justification has never come through Law-keeping.
Even Abraham lived before the Law.
Yet,
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3)
Faith—not Law—has always been God's way of justification.
4. The Law Demands Perfect Obedience
Many people think they can keep "most" of God's commandments.
James destroys that idea.
Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)
Paul adds:
Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things... (Galatians 3:10)
The Law accepts nothing less than perfection.
Since nobody is perfect,
everyone stands condemned under the Law.
5. The Law Was a Tutor
Paul explains:
The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ... (Galatians 3:24)
The Greek word translated "schoolmaster" refers to a guardian who supervised a child until maturity.
The Law's assignment was never permanent.
Its assignment ended when Christ came.
Therefore,
After that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:25)
6. Christ Fulfilled the Law
Jesus said,
Think not that I am come to destroy the law... but to fulfil." (Matthew 5:17)
Christ fulfilled every demand of the Law.
He obeyed perfectly.
He fulfilled every prophecy.
He became the final sacrifice.
He accomplished what the Law pointed toward.
7. What the Law Could Not Do
Romans 8:3 is one of the greatest Grace verses.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son...
Notice carefully.
The Law was not weak.
Human flesh was weak.
Therefore,
God did what the Law could never accomplish.
Christ condemned sin in His flesh.
8. Grace Came Through Christ
John writes,
The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
The Law came as commandments.
Grace came in a Person.
Jesus is the full revelation of God's Grace.
9. Righteousness Is Now a Gift
Romans 5:17 says,
the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness...
Notice,
Righteousness is called a gift.
It is received. Not achieved.
This destroys every idea of self-righteousness.
10. The Believer Is Not Under Law
Paul declares,
Ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)
This does not mean believers are lawless.
It means our relationship with God is no longer based upon the Mosaic covenant.
We now relate to God through Christ.
11. Does Grace Encourage Sin?
Paul immediately answers.
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. (Romans 6:1–2)
Grace is not permission to sin.
Grace is God's power for holy living.
Titus explains,
The grace of God... teaching us that, denying ungodliness... (Titus 2:11–12)
Notice,
The Law commands.
Grace teaches.
The Law threatens punishment.
Grace transforms the heart.
12. The New Covenant Is Superior
The book of Hebrews repeatedly explains that Christ established a better covenant.
He is the mediator of a better covenant... (Hebrews 8:6)
The Old Covenant had repeated sacrifices.
The New Covenant has one perfect sacrifice forever.
By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
Nothing can be added to Christ's finished work.
13. Law vs Grace
Law| Grace
Given through Moses| Revealed through Jesus Christ
Reveals sin| Removes sin through Christ
Demands righteousness| Gives righteousness as a gift
Condemns the guilty| Justifies the believer
Requires works| Received by faith
Temporary| Eternal
Shadow| Reality
Points to Christ| Reveals Christ
Conclusion
The Law was never God's final answer.
It pointed to His final answer—Jesus Christ.
The believer is not accepted because he keeps the Law.
He is accepted because Christ fulfilled the Law on his behalf.
Our confidence is not in our performance but in Christ's perfect obedience.
The Christian life is not lived by striving to earn God's acceptance. It is lived by faith in the One who has already accepted us in His Son.
As Paul concludes:
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4)
Christ is the fulfillment of everything the Law anticipated. Therefore, our message is not Moses but Jesus; not self-effort but faith; not condemnation but justification; not Law but Grace.
Grace does not lower God's standard—it reveals that Jesus perfectly met God's standard on our behalf.
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