According to Scripture, we all need salvation because we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). Salvation is a gift from God that we receive by grace. Jesus took the punishment for our sins upon Himself. Our own works cannot save us.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work (Romans 11:6).

This saving grace is wonderful news. But does it free us from obedience to God’s law? No. In fact, grace establishes the law. The law cannot save us, but it can warn us by telling us what sin is.

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law (Romans 3:31).

Romans 6:14-16 tells us this:

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Simply then, sin (transgressing God’s law) leads to eternal death, but grace leads to eternal life.

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12).

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).

It is by grace that we are saved, delivered from sin, justified, restored, and sanctified. On one hand, grace sets right our relationship with God. On the other hand, the law tells us what sin is so that we may avoid it by the grace of God. A true conversion will fill the heart with gratitude and the restored person will want to live in harmony with the law of God. Why does God not save everyone?

Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments…If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 14:15, 15:10).

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3).

A Story of Grace

In John 8, we read the account of Mary Magdalene when she was caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. She stood before Him condemned to death by the law (verses 3-5):

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

The law could not save her, but Jesus could. “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (verse 7). All of the accusers fell short of the glory of God. Convicted of their own sinfulness, they left one by one. Only the trembling, guilty, repentant Mary remained.

Jesus turned to her and said, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (verses 10-11).

The condemned sinner was forgiven and placed under grace, but then she was obligated to henceforth keep the law, to “go, and sin no more.” To be saved by grace does not relieve anyone from the duty of obedience to God’s law. Grace takes away the condemnation of the law, but it does not do away with the law.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).

We know that we are saved by grace because Jesus was crucified to pay for our sins. But what about God’s people who lived before the time of Jesus? How were they saved? In the next article, we will dive into God’s story of grace in the Old Testament.