What is the “main idea” or theme of the Bible? What do we think the Bible is all about? Is it to tell us how to be better people? If that’s true, then why do we need to be better people? Is it so we can be acceptable to God? Is the Bible just good instruction or is it Good News? Yes, the Bible has some very good instruction, but if we think the purpose of the Bible is to tell us how to be better Christians and what will happen to us if we don’t follow those instructions, we put ourselves in bondage again to the legalistic system of religion. We will wear ourselves out and miss the whole point of the Bible! God’s word is the revelation of the amazing grace of Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of our heavenly Father, and the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit!
You might ask the question: what about behaving right? Don’t we need the law so we will know how to behave ourselves? Some advocate that we are saved by grace in the New Covenant, but we still need the law of the Old Covenant as a reminder of what God expects of us. However, what they don’t realize is that this very law that they think will keep them from sinning actually throws wood on the fire of fleshly desires!
…the strength of sin is the law… (1 Corinthians 15:56)1
That word “strength” is the same word translated “power” in Romans 1:16 where it says the Gospel is the “power” of salvation. It’s the Greek word “dynamis”2 from which we get our word dynamite. The dynamite power of sin is in our efforts to keep the rule, the resolution, or the law. The more we try, the worse it gets.
I want to submit to you that if the strength of sin is the law, then it makes sense that the strength of holy living is grace!
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness… (Titus 2:11-12)
Grace “has appeared” because Grace is a Person! Grace is actually our mentor to instruct us to deny ungodliness. The law will not lift a finger to help us live holy lives, but the more we know about the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the more we will shine forth His image in godliness.
(from page 42 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1 All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
2 G1411 (dynamis), Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1411&t=KJV, accessed 5-17-14( from pages 40-41 of Unveiling Jesus )
