Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor

Salvation by Grace through Faith:
A Covenant Context

The Written Laws of Christ Continue:
Infusing Works with Heartfelt Faith

The Law of the Spirit of Life..That we should worship God "in spirit" became a central theme of the New Covenant: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). This emphasis upon following the inward dictates of "heart" and "Spirit" was the impetus that gave birth to a much misunderstood idea called "Spirit of the Law"--a concept that suffers from two common misconceptions:

        A)  The term "Spirit of the Law" is not contained in the scriptures. Paul spoke of "the law of the Spirit of life" (Romans 8:2), and taught "that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Romans 7:6). When taken out of context, this and other statements by Paul has led some to a second incorrect conclusion:

        B)  Living the so-called "Spirit of the Law" means that having a good inward attitude is good enough, and that outward obedience to the written law is optional. This erroneous idea is further energized by another of Paul's "hard to be understood" statements:

“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; . . . But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter” (Romans 2:28-29).

This declaration directly addresses the hypocrisy happening in those days. Some "scribes and Pharisees" (Matthew 23:27) would comply with the technical terms of "the letter," and thus created an outward appearance of goodness. Jesus called such pretenders of righteousness:

"hypocrites . . . whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27).

Paul called them “menpleasers” (Eph. 6:6) who offered outward “eyeservice” (Colossians 3:22) while inwardly motivated by "the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43).

Mere outward conformity to “the letter” (Romans 7:6) devoid of being “pure in heart” (Matt. 5:8) is not acceptable in Christ’s New Covenant. Living "the law of the Spirit of life" means avoiding all hypocrisy of heart while continuing outward obedience to the Savior's admonition:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me,
the works that I do shall he do also" (John 14:12).

Jesus taught that the "first and great commandment" (Matt. 22:38) should be kept with "all" heart, mind, strength, and soul (Mark 12:30). In this admonition, the Savior was expressing the integrity of our efforts to love God and fellowmen--that our love be whole and unified. Living "the law of the Spirit of life" means that inward intents of “an honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15) with “all humility of mind” (Acts 20:19) are added to outward “strength” of charitable service.

Jesus implored, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Obeying the commandments outwardly is still the standard of the New Covenant. By loving God and others with complete purity of heart, we infuse the "Spirit of life" (Rev. 11:11) into the strength of good works.

The Grace of God. Grace reigns through righteousness (Rom. 5:21); and it is His Righteousness that is the “well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). Further, it is the Savior who invites all to come and drink of “living water” and “never thirst” again (John 4:10-14).

While our loving Lord graciously provides the source of living waters, we must exercise our God-given agency to come to the Source and drink of “the fountain of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6). And as we drink, “the righteousness of the law [is] fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:4).

Through our heartfelt and faithful partaking of the waters of life and by His gracious giving of those merciful waters, the covenant is made complete.

But even though we diligently strive in righteousness, our fervent faith and heartfelt efforts inevitably fall short; Paul taught, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23). Therefore, our believing in Christ and working the works of Christ will ever be insufficient without His merciful giving of grace; hence, all boasting is excluded, whether of good faith (Rom. 3:28) or good works (Eph. 2:9).

All must humbly fall at the feet of the Master, and pray that His Righteousness might save us, for He is the Source of “living water,” and He is the True Vine from which our fruits flourish. Without Him we “can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Grace will not Save the Servants of Sin. Sealed and sanctified by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, the New Covenant is crowned by the Grace of God. But God never intended that his Grace would save those who willfully sin against his word, and fail to keep the explicit contigencies of the New Covenant. Paul warned: “What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law [of Moses], but under grace? God forbid.” He continues:

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” (Rom. 6:15-17).

The previous passage summarizes three important truths:

        A)   That all mankind is accountable before God for “that form of doctrine” that is delivered,
                   whether it be by the written word, the spoken word, or by the whisperings
                   of the Holy Spirit as the law written in the heart;

        B)   The law of the Spirit of life requires that “obedience unto righteousness”
                   must be “obeyed from the heart;” and

        C)   Those who are the “servants of sin” and yield not to the written word,
                   the spoken word, or the promptings of the law written in the heart, will “sin unto death.”

The Grace of God is extended to those who repent and faithfully do the works that Jesus did, with all heart, might, mind, and strength. Jesus “shall save his people from their sins” (Matt 1:21) through repentance, but He will not save them in their sins (1 Cor. 6:9-10); not because God lacks the power to save “the servants of sin,” but to do so would violate the terms of the New Covenant for which Christ shed his precious blood. Paul taught:

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26)

Paul reminded the Romans: “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace” (Romans 4:16) . . . “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:21). Paul also taught Timothy that if we “refuse” to “diligently follow every good work” and “cast off [our] first faith,” then “damnation” (1 Timothy 5:10-12) are the “wages” we are paid (Rom. 6:23). With salvation from sin at stake, Paul warns, “let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12).

The Savior’s “sacrifice for sins” was offered to those who believe in Him and humbly repent with all their heart. Sincere repentance includes a complete forsaking of old ways:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Past sinful deeds die with the old creature, and the new creature in Christ will “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4); but even then, the “righteous scarcely be saved” (1 Peter 4:16-19), and we continue to rely upon His Merits to mercifully span the gap between our falling “short” and his “Glory.” (Romans 3:23).

Grace Makes Faithful Efforts Sufficient. A just God has promised that all humanity will reap a harvest proportionate to their sowing; further, “grace” is able to make “every good work” abound to “sufficiency” for the soul that “soweth bountifully” and is a ”cheerful giver” from “his heart.” (2 Cor. 9:6-8).

“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:6-8).

Through Grace, our worthy walk (Eph. 4:1) becomes sufficient and “wellpleasing” to God (Heb. 13:20-21). But Paul makes it clear, once again, that Grace will not save the disobedient on Judgment Day:

“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasureth up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: . . . for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil . . . But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good” (Rom. 2:5-11).

In this passage, Paul warns that God’s wrath and indignation is upon those who “do not obey the truth,” and he also proclaims “glory, honour, and peace to every man that worketh good.”

This does not mean that the workers win over the believers; those who “worketh good” are the true believers--and vice versa (John 6:29; &14:12). Again, to be reconciled to God, “walking in truth” (2 John 1:4) must be done with undivided wholeness: heart, might, mind, strength, and soul.

The 4th and final article in this series clarifies two particularly thorny Conundrums of Commonly Misinterpreted Passages that, on the surface and taken out-of-context, appear to exclude "good works" from the covenant equation—obviously "works" devoid of heartfelt faithfulness have always been excluded (Matt. 6:5,16).

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Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor