The following articles are related to the topic of LAW AND GRACE

Every Spiritual Blessing Is in Christ

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . " (Eph. 1:3). The word "blessed" is eulogetos - like our word "eulogy." It means, "to speak well of."There are related words for "blessing" men, but this word is only used of God in the New Testament. Men may be "praised" for their benevolent deeds occasionally, ... read more »

Lessons from the Ark of the Covenant

When the children of Israel were delivered from Egyptian servitude, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. There Jehovah gave them a temporary house of worship-the tabernacle (tent). The tabernacle consisted of two rooms: first, the holy place, in which the priests ministered daily; then, the most holy place, into which the high priest went annually on the day of ... read more »

The Value of Old Testament Study

Several NewTestament passages teach the temporary design of the Old Testament system (the Law of Moses), and the fact that the new covenant of Christ superseded the Old (Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:14-15; Gal. 3:23-25; Rom. 7:1-6; Heb. 6:12; 9:15-17). If the Old Testament has been abrogated, why should a person be concerned with studying it? This is a question pondered ... read more »

Christian Ethics and Legal Maneuvering

When a Christian commits a crime, is he (or she) exempt from the societal consequences of the act, merely because of a relationship with Christ? Or is one obliged to face the legal responsibility for his deeds? May other Christians embolden law-breakers by supporting them or assisting them in escaping the duty they sustain to the law? The Dahmer Case ... read more »

DISgrace Institute: A Religious Disconnect

When it comes to religion, some folks have a real "disconnect." By that I mean they are strong in arguing for a particular doctrinal platform, but they see no relationship between their theological peculiarities and their conduct of life. The ancient Pharisees were of this sort. They adhered to the "strict manner of the law" (Acts 22:3). In fact, they ... read more »

The Origin of the Bible

One of the best known laws of the universe is the law of cause and effect. Simply stated it is this: every effect must have an adequate cause. Now let this law be applied to the Bible. The Bible is an effect. It was caused by some source. Really, there are but two possibilities: - The Bible originated from a ... read more »

What About the “Sacraments”?

"Do you know the actual history of 'Seven Sacraments'? Were all of these brought about at the same time?" The term "sacrament" derives from the Latin sacramentum, the meaning of which is "a thing set apart as holy." The New Testament never isolates certain acts of obedience from others by designating them as "sacraments." However, as the early church (late ... read more »

The Role of “Works” in God’s Plan of Redemption

Most Protestants, reacting adversely to the "works system" of Roman Catholicism, have adopted the extreme (and unscriptural) view that works play no role whatever in human salvation. Some allege that salvation is on the basis of "faith alone," while others (e.g., radical Calvinists) argue that God chose the redeemed before the world began, and that redemption, therefore, is entirely unconditional. ... read more »

False Teaching Regarding Mary

Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, has been given an exceptional amount of coverage of late by the news media. A recent feature article in the Birmingham Post-Herald contains this headline: "More Catholics turning to Mary" (March 24, 2001, p. D7). The following statement is made subsequently: "Through the centuries, the role of Mary in the Catholic Church has continued ... read more »

Why Did Paul Say, “Let God Be True...”?

"What does the passage mean, 'let God be found true, but every man a liar' (Romans 3:4)?" In the first two chapters of his letter to the Roman saints, Paul has discussed the spiritual plight of both the Gentiles (chapter 1), and the Jews (chapter 2). Both segments of humanity, he argued, had serious spiritual problems, and were accountable to ... read more »