What Is the Difference Between Law and Grace?

Direct Answer

The law reveals and condemns sin, while grace is unmerited favor that frees believers from the law's dominion and gives life through faith.

Les Feldick teaches that law and grace are as different as pitch midnight and high noon sunlight. The law only shows a man his sin and leaves him guilty, but grace—God's unmerited favor—places the believer in a totally different circumstance where sin does not have dominion and the Spirit gives life.

Key Scriptures

Romans 6:14 — Paul explicitly contrasts the two positions: a believer is not under the law but under grace.

Romans 4:15 — Shows that the law defines transgression, while grace operates on the basis of faith.

Galatians 5:1 — Highlights the liberty that grace brings, in contrast to the bondage of the law.

What Does the Bible Say?

Romans 6:14 states, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Paul also writes in Romans 4:15, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." This reveals that the law identifies sin and brings wrath, while grace sets a person on a new basis. Hebrews 11:3 and 11:6 connect faith with pleasing God: "Without faith it is impossible to please him." And Galatians 5:1 calls believers to "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Law and Grace?

Les Feldick teaches that there is "all the difference in the world" between law and grace—as different as "pitch midnight and high noon sunlight" (Clip 2). He says the law's only purpose is to give the knowledge of sin; the Ten Commandments simply revealed how the old Adam really operated (Clip 4). The law could only condemn; it had no life-giving power whatsoever (Clip 6). Grace, by contrast, is unmerited favor—nothing we do can count with God; it is all based on what He has done on our behalf (Clip 1). Because the believer is not under law but under grace, sin does not have dominion (Clips 1, 2, 5). This does not give license; rather, the believer has intense liberty, and God deals with failure in love and discipline rather than by stoning (Clip 3). Les also describes genuine faith as rock-solid—not easy-believism—so that a person knows Christ died for him or her personally (Clip 0). Under the law, love was not the key; it was commandment, but under grace love is the key (Clip 7).

What Is the Purpose of the Law?

Les Feldick explains that the law's one purpose is to give the knowledge of sin. The Ten Commandments showed man how he was bent to take God's name in vain, worship idols, be envious, want to thieve, and do the things the law prohibits. The law could not change a person; it could only pronounce him guilty and condemn. It gave man no life-giving power.

What Is God's Grace?

Grace is unmerited favor, as Les defines it. It is all based on what Christ has done on our behalf, not on anything we can do. Romans 6:14 declares that the believer is not under law but under grace. The Holy Spirit gives life, and grace is a whole different set of circumstances from legalism.

Does Grace Give Us a License to Sin?

No. Les affirms this directly: "That doesn't give us license, not at all." Under grace, the law has no power over us, but we are under a whole different set of circumstances. God deals with believers in love and discipline when they fail. The liberty believers have is not a license to sin.

How Is Faith Linked to Grace?

Faith is essential to pleasing God, as Hebrews 11:6 says. Les describes the faith of grace as rock-solid—knowing with all your being that Christ died for you and your sins are forgiven. In Romans 4:15, Paul says where no law is there is no transgression; therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace. Under the law, commandment was the key; under grace, love is key.

From the Teaching

Faith Is Not Easy-Believism

Les defines the faith that pleases God under grace: a rock-solid conviction that Christ died for me personally and my sins are forgiven.

Law vs. Grace: Day and Night

Les explains grace as unmerited favor—nothing we do counts with God; it is all based on what He has done for us.

Two Totally Different Concepts

Les uses Romans 6:14 to show we are not under law but under grace, making the difference as great as midnight versus high noon.

Law's Penalty vs. Grace's Discipline

Les contrasts the law's death penalty for gathering sticks on the Sabbath with grace's loving discipline for a believer's failure.

The Law Reveals Sin

Les teaches that the law's one purpose is to give the knowledge of sin, showing man that he is bent to do the things the law forbids.

Grace Does Not Excuse Sin

Under grace the law has no power over the believer, but this is not license—it is a different set of circumstances.

Law Condemns, Grace Gives Life

Les says the law can only condemn and has no life-giving power, while grace, through the Holy Spirit, gives life.

Commandment vs. Love

Under the law, commandment was the key; under grace, love is the key. Paul ties faith and grace together where no law is.

Bible Verses

Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

This is the key verse Les uses to show the difference between the two systems.

Romans 4:15: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Explains that the law defines transgression, setting up grace as the alternative.

Romans 3:20: 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.

Shows the law's purpose is to reveal sin, not to save.

Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Describes the liberty believers have in grace, as opposed to the bondage of the law.

Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Les uses this to show that faith simply believes what God has said.

Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is the foundation of a grace relationship with God.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did God give the law if it cannot save?

The law was given to give the knowledge of sin. It showed man his natural bent to do the things the law prohibits. It could only condemn; it had no life-giving power. Grace, not the law, gives life.

What does it mean to be under grace?

Being under grace means you are not under the law's dominion. Sin no longer has dominion over you. Grace is unmerited favor, based entirely on what Christ has done for you, and it does not give license to sin.

Is 'faith plus nothing' an easy-believism?

No. Les Feldick says he never teaches easy-believism. Faith means a rock-solid belief that Christ died for you personally and that your sins are forgiven. It is a genuine conviction that pleases God.

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Source Video

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