Law or Grace: Walking in Freedom in Christ through the Finished Work of the Cross

Many believers find themselves torn between two realities: the law and grace. The law demands perfection, showing us where we fall short, while grace offers freedom, forgiveness, and power to live according to God’s will. So, do we live by the law, or do we live by grace?

Scripture Reference:

Let’s begin by looking at Galatians 5:1:“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”In the Expositor Study Bible Notes, it emphasizes that we were made free to live a holy life, and this freedom comes through evidence of faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross. This freedom is not just a freedom from sin, but a freedom to live according to the divine nature found in Christ Jesus. However, abandoning the cross and turning to the law in any form guarantees bondage to the sin nature once again.

The Law's Role:

The law, as we see in the Bible, was never meant to save. Its purpose was to show us God’s perfect standard and to reveal our inability to meet that standard on our own. In Romans 3:20, Paul writes, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The law was like a mirror that reflected our flaws, but it couldn’t fix them. It was never designed to be a permanent solution. In fact, living under the law leads us back into bondage to our sin nature, as we are constantly reminded of our inability to perfectly obey God. It points us to the need for a Savior.

Galatians 3:24 tells us, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The law’s purpose was to teach us that we are in need of a Savior, showing us our sinfulness and inability to attain God’s perfect standard on our own. The law was never intended to save us or make us righteous; it was to point us to the One who could—Jesus Christ.

Grace's Power:

This is where grace steps in. Grace is the unearned favor of God, extended to us through Jesus Christ. Through the finished work of the cross, Jesus did what the law could never do. He not only fulfilled the law’s requirements but also took upon Himself the penalty for our sins, making a way for us to live free from the law’s condemnation. Romans 6:14 tells us, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

It is vital to understand that we are not saved by the law, nor are we saved by works. If anyone thinks that they can do something, in terms of works, to please God and earn salvation, they are sadly deceived. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” The only work God accepts is the work of accepting Christ Jesus as Savior and resting in His finished work on the cross. It is not through our own efforts or good deeds, but by grace alone that we are saved.

Walking under grace doesn’t mean living without rules or guidelines; rather, it means that our power to live for Christ comes from God’s Spirit within us, not from our own strength or adherence to a set of rules. We are no longer bound to the law, but instead empowered by the grace of God to live in the divine nature of Christ Jesus. This is the freedom we’re called to—freedom from the bondage of sin and the law, and freedom to live according to God’s will.

Growing in Grace and Grounded in Truth:

As we walk in grace, we are called to grow in that grace. 2 Peter 1:5-12 speaks of adding to our faith the virtues of moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. These qualities help us grow, becoming more like Christ, as we allow grace to take root and grow within us. In verse 8, it says, "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." This knowledge is rooted in the truth of Jesus, who is the truth (John 14:6), and the truth of His finished work on the cross.

Luke 9:23 tells us that, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Walking in grace involves daily surrender, taking up the cross, and living out the reality of Jesus’ work in our lives. We don’t walk by the law, but we walk by grace as we deny ourselves and follow Christ.

This is a continual process of growth in grace, as we are grounded in the truth of the cross. The truth, which is Jesus and Him crucified, is the foundation of our faith and our freedom. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” It is only through the cross that we find true freedom, grace, and the power to live a godly life.

The Freedom to Live for Christ:

Grace is not just a get-out-of-jail-free card. It is the power to live the holy life we are called to. Through grace, we have the ability to walk in the divine nature of Christ, which is made possible by His finished work on the cross. It is not about striving to meet a law’s demands, but about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. As 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Grace doesn’t lead us to lawlessness; it leads us to a deeper commitment to Christ and a greater desire to live for Him.

In John 8:32, Jesus tells us, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth of the cross sets us free, and through that truth, we are able to walk in grace and live for Christ. This freedom is fully realized when we understand that we are no longer strangers to God but have been brought near through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13-18). Through Jesus, we have peace with God, and that peace enables us to walk in the grace and freedom He has provided.

So, are we to live by the law or by grace?

The answer is clear: Grace.

Jesus' finished work on the cross has set us free from the law’s condemnation and from the power of sin. Now, we walk in the freedom of grace, trusting in His work rather than our own. When we walk in grace, we are walking in the divine nature of Christ, empowered to live for Him and fulfill His purpose in our lives. This is the life we are called to—one that reflects the love and grace of God, not through our striving, but through His strength at work in us.

Let us rest in the sufficiency of His grace, knowing that it is not about what we do to earn His favor, but about what He has already done for us at Calvary.