Law and Gospel Distinguished
Condemns vs Saves
Law and Gospel · 6 verses
The law's ministry is condemnation, declaring all guilty and worthy of death; the gospel's ministry is salvation, declaring believers righteous and heirs of eternal life. The law cannot save because it demands what fallen man cannot provide; the gospel saves because it provides what condemned man desperately needs. The law kills, the gospel makes alive. The law curses, the gospel blesses. These ministries are not contradictory but complementary—the law prepares the way for the gospel by showing the need which the gospel alone can meet.
Scripture References
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
“And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.”