Law and grace are two totally different concepts: the law reveals sin and condemns, while grace is unmerited favor through what Christ has done.
The Bible says the law brings the knowledge of sin and cannot justify anyone (Romans 3:20), while Romans 6:14 declares believers are not under the law but under grace. Les Feldick emphasizes that grace is unmerited favor and is not license; law and grace are as different as pitch midnight and high noon sunlight and will not mix.
Romans 3:20 — This verse directly states the law's role is to give knowledge of sin, not to justify anyone.
Romans 3:21 — This verse introduces the righteousness of God that is manifested apart from the law.
Romans 6:14 — This is the key verse contrasting law and grace: believers are under grace, not law.
Romans 3:20 declares that no flesh is justified in God's sight by the deeds of the Law, because the Law gives the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:21 then reveals the answer: 'But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.' This righteousness is from God, not from human law-keeping. Romans 6:14 draws the direct contrast: 'For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.' The believer is placed under a different principle. Romans 8:4 further says the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in those who are in Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that law and grace are not two shades of the same thing; they are 'two totally different concepts' and 'will not mix.' He describes the difference as 'like daylight and dark' and 'as much difference... as between pitch midnight and high noon sunlight.' The law's only role was to condemn. It brought the awareness of sin and had no power to help even the Jew keep it. God gave the Law to Israel as one administration; then, in the Age of Grace, anyone — Jew or Gentile — can be saved simply by believing the Gospel. It is a change of administration, not a change of God. Grace is unmerited favor; nothing we do counts with God, and it is based on what Christ has done. But grace is not license. If a believer fails, God deals in love and discipline, not the Law's penalty of death. Paul constantly cries against legalism because believers are not under the Law but under grace.
Les says you must separate what is for the Jew from what is for the Gentile. God dealt with Israel under the Law, while He deals with believers today under Grace. These are two totally contrary principles, and law and grace will not mix. Paul cries against legalism in any shape or form because we are not under the Law, we are under Grace.
The Bible says the law brings the knowledge of sin. Les adds that the law could do nothing but condemn; it had no power to help even the Jew be a law keeper. God gave Israel the Law as an administration that had never existed before on the planet, and then the Age of Grace came as a different administration.
In the Age of Grace, Les says, the great Gospel is that anybody — black or white, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile — can enter into God's salvation by simply believing the Gospel. This is a different administration, but the same God. The righteousness of God is revealed apart from the law.
Les explains that under the law, picking up sticks on the Sabbath resulted in death by stoning. Under grace, if we sin or fail, we are not utterly chastised or cast out; God deals with us in love and moves from one level of discipline to another. Grace is not license.
The Law's Role Is to Condemn
Les shows that by the law comes knowledge of sin; the law could not justify anyone or help even the Jew keep it — it could only condemn.
Grace Is Unmerited Favor
Les says law and grace are like daylight and dark; grace means nothing I can do counts with God, everything is based on what Christ has done.
Law and Grace Are Two Totally Different Concepts
Les is amazed that many Bible Belt Christians don't know the difference; he uses 'pitch midnight' vs 'high noon sunlight' and points to Romans 6:14.
Not Under Law But Under Grace
Les says believers are not under the ritual and stipulations of Israel's law but under grace, and grace is not license.
Law's Penalty vs Grace's Discipline
Under law, picking up sticks on the Sabbath meant death by stoning; under grace, a believer who fails is disciplined in love, not cast out.
A Change of Administration
God first gave Israel the law as a unique administration, then brought the Age of Grace in which salvation is by believing the Gospel; the same God, but a change of operations.
Law and Grace Will Not Mix
Les says God dealt with Israel under law and with us under grace; these are contrary principles that will not mix, and Paul warns against legalism.
The Righteousness of the Law Fulfilled in Us
Les explains that while the law was perfect and holy, its righteous requirement is fulfilled in believers who are in Christ by faith.
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.
This verse establishes the law's role: it exposes sin and cannot justify anyone.
Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
This verse reveals that God's righteousness comes apart from the law.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This key verse directly contrasts the law with grace.
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.
Paul calls believers to stand in the liberty of grace and not return to the law's bondage.
Romans 8:4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
This verse explains that the law's righteous requirement is fulfilled in believers, not by law-keeping but by being in Christ.
Yes. Les Feldick says the difference is like pitch midnight and high noon sunlight. The law brings knowledge of sin and condemnation; grace is unmerited favor based on what Christ has done.
No. Les Feldick repeatedly says grace is not license. Under grace, sin and failure bring loving discipline, not the Law's death penalty, but believers are called to stand in liberty.
God gave the law to Israel in one administration; in the Age of Grace, the same God brought a change of operations so that anyone—Jew or Gentile—can be saved by believing the Gospel.
Watch the Teaching: The Righteousness of God Without the Law Explained