1. Theme Overview
This theme explores the relationship between God’s law and His grace, showing how obedience, moral instruction, and covenantal law point to the ultimate grace found in Christ. It highlights God’s justice, mercy, and the transformational role of His Spirit.
Key Concept:
- Law: God’s commandments reveal His holiness, justice, and moral order, guiding human behaviour.
- Grace: God’s unmerited favour redeems humanity from the impossibility of perfectly keeping the law.
Core Theological Insight:
Law exposes human sinfulness and points to the need for God’s grace, which is ultimately fulfilled and fully revealed in Jesus Christ.
2. Key Biblical Books
Cross-referenced books that contribute majorly or significantly to this theme:
| Book | Role in Theme |
|---|---|
| Exodus | ✅ Giving of the Law at Sinai; moral and ceremonial instructions |
| Leviticus | ✅ Holiness codes, sacrificial system, and priestly regulations |
| Numbers | ⚪ Consequences of obedience and disobedience in wilderness |
| Deuteronomy | ✅ Reiteration of the law; covenant blessings and curses |
| Psalms | ⚪ Reflection on law, righteousness, and God’s mercy |
| Proverbs | ⚪ Wisdom literature showing law as moral guidance |
| Romans | ✅ Explains the law’s role and justification by grace through faith |
| Galatians | ✅ Contrasts law with freedom in Christ; emphasizes grace |
| Ephesians | ⚪ Salvation by grace through faith, not works |
| Hebrews | ✅ Christ as the ultimate fulfilment of the law and mediator of grace |
3. Key Stories and Passages
- Giving of the Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:1–21
God provides moral law to guide human conduct. - Sacrificial System and Holiness Codes – Leviticus 1–7, 11–20
Laws govern worship, moral purity, and social justice, pointing to the need for atonement. - Israel in the Wilderness – Numbers 14:1–45
Disobedience highlights the tension between law and human weakness. - Christ Fulfilling the Law – Matthew 5:17–20
Jesus fulfils the law perfectly, bringing grace to those who believe. - Justification by Grace – Romans 3:20–24
No one is righteous by law alone; salvation comes through God’s grace. - Freedom from the Law – Galatians 5:1–6
Believers are called to live by the Spirit, not under legalistic bondage.
4. Key Theological Points
- The law exposes sin, guides righteous living, and reveals God’s character.
- Grace is God’s unmerited favour, providing salvation apart from human merit.
- Christ mediates between law and grace: He fulfils the law and offers forgiveness to sinners.
- The believer’s life flows from gratitude for grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey God’s moral will.
5. Suggested Study Approach
- By Book: Study Exodus–Deuteronomy for the law; Romans–Galatians–Hebrews for grace.
- By Story: Compare Israel under the law with Christ’s fulfilment.
- By Theology: Focus on law as revelation and grace as the fulfilment of redemption.