Unit 1a
Law And Gospel-Part I

Image you have an absolutely huge debt to pay. Let's say the amount of the debt is $100 million.

Now imagine you don't have any money. You're totally broke. You're poor. Not only are you not able to earn enough money to pay the $100 million debt; You have absolutely no way to earn any money.

That would be an extraordinarily difficult situation. At best, you might feel hopeless, powerless and full of shame.

But what if someone--someone you didn't know, didn't expect and couldn't recognize--came to you and gave you $1 trillion dollars.

How would you respond?

Please watch the video below to continue this lesson.

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What are Law and Gospel?

Very simply, Law and Gospel are God's way of dealing with us. God deals with us through the Law to tell us we are sinners. God deals with us through the Gospel to tell us we are forgiven.

What is the function of the Law?

The Law Shows Our SINS. "S.O.S." is the familiar way to remember this. To understand the Law's purpose just ask yourself, "How do I feel after I know that I've done something wrong and broke the Ten Commandments?"

You would likely feel guilty, shameful, hopeless. That is what the Law does. Worst yet, the Law promises that all those who disobey God's Law--the Ten Commandments--deserve death and eternal death in hell. And you thought being flat broke was bad!

What is the function of the Gospel?

The purpose of the Gospel is to deliver us from the horribleness of the shame, guilt, blame and death which the Law brings against us. How does the Gospel do this? The Gospel delivers us from the Law by the "S.O.S." acronym: The Gospel Shows Our SAVIOR.

In numerous places the Bible tells us how God saves us. Perhaps two of the most prominent verses are

1) John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life;" and

2) Ephesians 2:8-10: "By grace you are saved by faith. You didn't in any way do it by yourself. It's a gift of God."

Saved ONLY By Grace

Because the Law continually shows us that we're sinners, we are totally unable to do anything to earn salvation. We are totally helpless. God could help us, but the Law reminds us that we don't deserve it. Satan causes us to doubt that God has helped us in Jesus Christ.

That's what the Gospel is about: giving God's unconditional and unlimited forgiveness for you and all believers. Because of Jesus Christ's suffering and death, our sins are completely forgiven.

What did you do to earn or deserve this? Not a thing! How do we respond to this priceless gift? With a hearty THANK YOU of our entire life, offering to God our heart, soul, mind, being and existence in thanksgiving for this salvation.

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