The Law Demands; the Spirit Provides

I was raised, ostensibly, as a Catholic. I attended a boys-only Catholic High School wearing a sport jacket and tie throughout those 4 years. Senior year I was Class Religious Chairman and won “Religious Activities” awards in years 3 & 4. – I have no idea how that happened.

From the 1972 Good Counsel yearbook:

To be clear, this isn’t about Catholicism—it’s about any system or religion—including evangelical churches—that teaches we must be good based on our own efforts, apart from the power and gift of God.

Eight years after graduation, in 1980 I was born again. If anyone is interested in the details of that amazing experience please feel free to ask me about it.

In the Gospel of John 3:6-7, Jesus said to Nicodemous:  “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

I sold out completely to God – “Trust in the Lord” the Bible says, “with all your heart;” — but somehow I missed a key point:

I felt not only obliged – but compelled
– to obey the law by my own effort.

The Apostle Paul challenged the Galatians in chapter 3:

” Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing (in faith) what you heard?”  Paul says:  “…are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?“

This is the absolute crux of what I and many others miss:

“The mind (or works) of the flesh is death but the mind set on the fruit of the Spirit is life.” (Romans 8:6 paraphrased)

I did something terrible. I really did.

Wanting the very best for our children I taught them the benefits of obeying the laws of God. But the laws of God only point out the sinfulness we already have; it doesn’t provide the power to be good. I was a Pharisee, a hypocrite, focusing on the law of God rather than on the grace of God.

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ”    John 1:17

I was living under the Old Covenant, the Old Testament, rather than the New Covent, the New Testament.

Here is the contrast we must understand to live our lives in peace, holy unto God:

The Law demands; the Spirit provides.

In Galatians:                                

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: ” (acts=works)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Gal 4&5) (fruit grows from the branch, Jesus Christ)

Do you want these things in abundance? Joy? Peace?

Do you want to be able to give these things to others? Patience? Kindness? Gentleness? (especially when driving?)

Do you want self-control?

I certainly want all these things. But in my own strength I will ultimately fail. The Gospel explains how to get all these things!

3rd John 1:4 says:

” I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

The truth of the Gospel, the Good News is that Jesus paid it all, provided it all, freely gave us our righteousness based on the completed work of Jesus Christ – not on our works.

The Word says:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

What I want for each of you—more than anything else—is not religion, not rules, not striving, but a simple trust in God’s grace through Jesus. That is our only foundation for peace, joy, and eternal life. Through God’s grace we will be given all these things.

I love you all, and I’m praying that this truth will be real in each of your lives.