Seeing Grace

Preaching Both Law and Grace is a Recipe for Disaster

It is widely taught in the church that before someone can really appreciate the grace of God found in Christ Jesus they must first really know the depths of their sin or depravity. This thinking has led preachers of the gospel to preach “law” before preaching “grace,” to tell the bad news before they tell the good news. To proclaim the wrath of God toward man before they proclaim the wrath of God toward the Lamb for man. It sounds logical. But is that what Jesus taught? Is that how the apostles preached the gospel? Jesus never instructed His followers to go forth in all the world and preach the bad news and then follow that up with the good news. In every single example of the gospel being preached in the book of Acts we find the good news of Jesus being proclaimed and no effort on the part of the apostles or others proclaiming the gospel to somehow put their hearers “under law” first or somehow make their hearers deeply aware of their great sinfulness first, before proclaiming the goodness of God in Christ Jesus. The scripture says that it is the revelation of the goodness of God that leads a person to repentance and faith. Jesus said that if He is lifted up on the cross to take our judgment for us that He would draw all men to Him. It is the great love of God revealed in Christ that draws men to Jesus. So which is it? Are we to tell people how sinful they are before we tell them their sins have been forgiven through Christ? Or does the scripture teach that we are too simply preach Jesus the Son of God who through His death has forgiven us of all our sins, calling them to simply believe on Him? I believe the scripture is clear that it is the latter.

– James Barron

“Of Him (Jesus) all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives the forgiveness of sins. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.” (Acts 10:43-44)