LAW AND LOVE AND GRACE

LAW AND LOVE AND GRACE

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."  Exod 20:2　

These are the words which introduce the Law. They constitute the immediate prelude to the Ten inclusive Words; and have their bearing on all the applications, and elaborations thereof, both with regard to CONDUCT and to WORSHIP. This we should never forget. God's law was for His ransomed people. Every requirement is rooted in this fact of relationship. God did not promulgate a code of laws for the children of Israel, while they were in bondage, telling them that if they would obey it, He would deliver them. He brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and then gave them His law. From all responsibility to the proud despotism of Egypt He liberated them by bringing them under His immediate government; from all the shackles of the house of BONDAGE He set them free, by bringing them into the LIBERTY of His LOVE. Then He gave them the words which revealed His WILL for them. Thus LAW in itself was an expression of LOVE. This is ever God's way. In this special dispensation of His grace it is still true. Now, however, it is perhaps more necessary to remind ourselves that grace does not set aside ethical requirement. He still gives us laws which condition CONDUCT and WORSHIP, and because in Christ Jesus grace has had its most perfect outshining, and its most powerful operation, the TERMS OF LAW have become severer and more exacting. Nevertheless, the thought of strength and comfort for us is ever that every requirement of His LAW is rooted in His LOVE.