I became intrigued about the relationship between Grace and Truth, Justice and Obedience. How do they work together ? Does one balances the other: like too much on the 'Justice side' is Legalism, too much on the 'Love side' is Abuse ?
First, Grace is characterized as being not the law Jn 1:17, Ro 4:16, 5:20, 6:14–15, 11:5-6, Ga 2:21, 5:4
Conclusion 1 : They aren't the same.
Then we see that Grace is forever linked with
- Truth 2Sa 15:20, Ps 61:7, 85:10, 89:14, Pr 3:3, 14:22, 16:6, 20:28, Ho 4:1, Mic 7:20, Jn 1:14,17
- Justice Ps 33:5, 101:1, Jr 9:24, Ho 2:19, 12:6, Mic 6:8, Zc 7:9
- Righteousness Ps 33:5, 112:4, 116:5, Pr 21:21, Jr 9:24, Ho 2:19, 10:12, Ro 5:17, 21
We continue and notice that Grace
- Calls me to holiness 2Ti 1:9
- Denies ungodliness Tit 2:11-12
- Brings me to godliness Tit 2:11-12
On the flip side we see that Grace is not to be abused Is 26:10, Jnh 2:8, Ro 3:8, 4:4, 6:1, 15, Ga 1:6, 2:21, 5:4,1Co 15:10, 2Co 6:1, He 10:29, 12:15, 13:9, Jude 1:4
Conclusion 4: Grace is not an excuse to disobey.
And finally, when looking deeper at the relationship between Grace and Obedience, I find
1. that Grace is the SOURCE of my Obedience Ps 119:29, Ro 1:5 and Holiness Ro 6:22, 2Co 1:12, 2Ti 1:9, Tit 2:11-13, 1Pt 2:1-3
2. Grace is the RESULT of my Obedience Ex 20:6, 33:13, Dt 7:9, 13:17-18, 1Ki 8:23, 2Ch 6:14, 30:9, Ps 84:11, 103:13, 17,112:4, Pr 1:9, 3:4, 14:9, Ezr 8:22, Ne 1:5, Is 30:18, 55:7, Am 5:15, Ep 6:24
Conclusion 5: I obey because of Grace and I receive Grace because I obey.
I take an important life lessons from that: It really is all about giving Grace to the sinner ...including myself,
but never being graceful towards the sin itself ...including my own.