Mythical Monday: Balancing Law & Grace

Happy Mythical Monday! This week’s myth—you need a balance of law and grace.

Now, typically, we don’t say it quite so directly of course, instead we use language like, “we need a balance of grace and truth.” So, what, do we believe that grace and truth are opposite to one another then? Hmm. Doesn’t sound right to me. Most will cite John 1:14 as proof for this required balance claiming that Jesus was “full of grace AND truth.” Spend 5 minutes doing a quick word study on the Greek word used for truth there and you will find that in ancient Greek culture it was a word synonymous for “reality.” As in, the opposite of an illusion. A better way to read that verse would be that Jesus was the fullness of grace realized or that Jesus was the reality of grace. This is echoed in Hebrews 10, where we are told that the Law was a shadow of good things to come but not the reality itself. Jesus is our new and better reality!

Within our churches, we have instead translated “truth” to be synonymous with morality, law, and good Christian behavior. So, essentially our balancing scales look something like this: On one side, grace (all that mushy feely God’s love stuff) and on the other side truth (all that deep scripture and spiritual discipline stuff). The fact is that law is what gives sin its power (1 Cor 15:56; Rom 7; Rom 5:20). Seeking to maintain or increase your righteousness through your works and effort is directly in opposition to grace (Rom 11:6). In fact, Paul goes as far as to say that to do so makes Christ’s sacrifice worthless (Gal 2:21). To live in law is to live in opposition to Christ (Gal 5:4). You cannot mix or balance law & grace any more than you can mix or balance light & darkness. Grace is all-encompassing, hyper-abounding, and the catalyst for our growth. Our New Covenant in Christ is not about blending the old with the new. It is a better covenant founded on better promises not blended ones (Heb 8:6). Put away your spiritual Kitchen Aids and enjoy grace, all natural and unfiltered.