Law Condemns and Grace Forgives - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17

Law Condemns and Grace Forgives
The law most frequently mentioned in Scripture was given by Moses, and from Sinai to Calvary dominates and characterizes the time; just as grace dominates or gives its peculiar character to the dispensation that begins at Calvary and has its predicted termination in the Rapture of the Church.

It is, however, of the most vital moment to observe that Scripture never, in any dispensation, mingles these two principles. Law always has a place and work distinct and wholly diverse from that of grace. Law is God prohibiting and requiring; grace is God beseeching and bestowing. Law is a ministry of condemnation; grace, of forgiveness. Law curses; grace redeems from that curse. Law kills; grace makes alive. Law shuts every mouth before God; grace opens every mouth to praise Him. Law puts a great and guilty distance between man and God; grace makes guilty man nigh to God. Law says, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”; grace says “not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” It has been said, “Hate your enemy”; grace says, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you.” Law says, do and live; grace says, believe and live.

Law never had a missionary; grace is to be preached to every creature. Law utterly condemns the best man; grace freely justifies the worst. Law is a system of probation; grace, of favor. Law stones an adulteress; grace says, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Under law the sheep dies for the shepherd; under grace the Shepherd dies for the sheep.

Everywhere the Scriptures present law and grace in sharply contrasted spheres. The mingling of them in much of the current teaching of the day spoils both, for law is robbed of its terror and grace of its freeness.

C. I. Scofield