Is the Law Truly Replaced by Grace? A Closer Look at Contradictions
In this article, you will learn how John 1:17 contradicts Romans 6:14, Matthew 5:17, James 2:24, Galatians 2:16 and Romans 3:31. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
In John 1:17, the Apostle John presents a transformative message: while God's rules came through Moses, Jesus Christ delivers kindness and truth, indicating God's immense love for humanity. On the surface, this suggests a transition from the old system of law to one of grace. However, other biblical passages seem to challenge or nuance this perspective.
Romans 6:14 might initially seem to reinforce John's message, indicating believers are under grace, not law. However, the discussion of law versus grace isn't as straightforward elsewhere. For instance, in Matthew 5:17, Jesus explicitly says He didn’t come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill them. This suggests that rather than replacing the law with grace, Jesus might be perfecting or completing it—much like a sculptor refining a rough stone into a masterpiece.
The Book of James introduces another layer. In James 2:24, we find that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. This seems to uphold the importance of actions alongside belief, implying that grace doesn’t entirely dismiss the significance of the law.
Galatians 2:16 emphasizes faith in Jesus above the works of the law, aligning somewhat with John’s portrayal. However, the perceived contradiction here hinges on interpretation—much like reading a complex novel where different readers might see varied themes.
Finally, Romans 3:31 asserts that faith does not nullify the law but establishes it. This could suggest that faith and law coexist, rather than one replacing the other, similar to light both illuminating and revealing the colors of a painting.
These perspectives present a nuanced view of the interplay between law and grace. They challenge believers to ponder deeply—has grace replaced the law, or has it transformed our understanding of it? The answer may depend on personal interpretation, much like understanding a multifaceted diamond's depth by viewing it from different angles.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | John 1:17 | For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. |
| 2. | Romans 6:14 | For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. |
| 3. | Matthew 5:17 | Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. |
| 4. | James 2:24 | Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. |
| 5. | Galatians 2:16 | Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. |
| 6. | Romans 3:31 | Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. |