One of the most dangerous misconceptions in our spiritual lives is the idea that grace somehow frees us from the responsibility of living according to God’s commandments. How often do we hear, or even say ourselves, “I’m not under the law but under grace!”—as if those seven words are a shield to excuse behavior that doesn’t align with the teachings of Christ. When confronted about our actions, we might get defensive, insisting, “Don’t judge me; you know what the Bible says about judging.”

But let’s pause and ask: Is that really the purpose of grace? Does grace give us an eternal “get out of jail free” card that allows us to avoid taking responsibility for our actions? Or is there something much deeper at play?

Let’s turn to the Sermon on the Mount. As Jesus stood teaching on the shore of Galilee, he made a statement that likely startled his listeners. In Matthew 5:17, he says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” This is a profound declaration. But did Jesus really mean it? Could these words truly come from the same Jesus that Paul spoke of in Romans 10:4, where he says, “Christ is the end of the law”?

At first glance, there seems to be a contradiction. After all, Jesus was executed for breaking the religious Law. He didn’t adhere to the strict hand-washing rituals; he healed the sick on the Sabbath, picked grain to eat on the holy day, and claimed to be God. Yet, here is Jesus speaking with reverence about the Law. In the very next verse, he adds in Matthew 5:18, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”

What Jesus is teaching here is that the Law is not some archaic set of rules that can be disregarded; It is a reflection of God’s holy character and his will for humanity. Jesus is saying that not even the smallest letter or stroke of a pen from the Law will pass away until everything is accomplished. But why? Why uphold a law that he seems, in other instances, to challenge?

To understand this, we must distinguish between the “Law” and the “rules” found in the Old Testament. The Law referenced here is the Law of Moses, primarily represented by the Ten Commandments, which is universal and eternal, given to guide all of humanity in their relationship with God and each other. These commandments form the moral foundation that reflects God’s character and desires for his creation. On the other hand, the rules in the Old Testament, many of which are found in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, were given specifically to the Israelites to address their particular needs and circumstances. These rules covered a wide range of areas, from dietary restrictions to ceremonial practices, and were designed to set Israel apart as God’s chosen people during that time and context.

While the rules served a significant purpose for the Israelites, they were never meant to be the ultimate expression of God’s will. They were contextual, meant to guide a specific people at a specific time. The Law, however, the Ten Commandments, transcends context and remains relevant for all time and all people across nations and cultures.

Therefore, Jesus didn’t come to abolish this Law; he came to fulfill it. For this, he embodied its deepest intent—perfect love. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus demonstrated that the Law is fulfilled in love. He didn’t come to do away with the Law but to show us how to live it out in the spirit of love.

But this raises another question: If the Law is good, why does it sometimes feel like it is against us? Paul wrestles with this in his letter to the Romans, where he candidly admits that the Law, though good, often feels like it condemns him because it makes him aware of his sinfulness, “What then are we to say? That the Law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the Law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet” (Romans 7:7-12). Paul is quick to clarify that the Law itself is not evil. Rather, it is helpful as it reveals our deep need for God’s grace. It is the Law that brings us to the point of recognizing our inability to live righteously on our own and leads us to cry out, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25). Paul shows us that while the Law exposes our sin, it also points us to the solution—God’s grace through Jesus Christ.

Why do we obey the Law, then? Is it out of fear? Is it out of a sense of duty or convenience? Or is it something more profound?

Too often, we approach obedience as a burden, something we do because we fear punishment or because It is simply the “right” thing to do. But Christ calls us to a higher motivation—love. Our obedience should flow from a heart that has been transformed by the grace of God. It is not about ticking off boxes on a spiritual checklist; It is about responding to the incredible grace we have received with a life that reflects that grace.

Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 6:12 when he says, “All things are permitted for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.” Here, Paul reminds us that just because we are under grace doesn’t mean we should live without restraint. Grace is not a license to sin; It is the power to live in freedom from sin.

And in Romans 6:1-2, Paul adds, “What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may increase? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?” Grace empowers us to live differently—to live righteously—not out of fear or obligation but out of love and gratitude.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, spoke extensively about this relationship between grace, Law, and holiness. In his sermon “The Law Established through Faith,” Wesley taught that the moral Law, particularly as summarized in the Ten Commandments, is not abolished for Christians but fulfilled in our hearts through love. He emphasized that while ceremonial laws and certain civil ordinances specific to the Israelites were fulfilled and thus no longer binding, the moral Law remains a perpetual guide for Christian living. Wesley believed that the grace of God not only pardons sin but also empowers us to live holy lives, where our obedience to the Law is not a matter of fear or external compulsion but a joyful response to God’s love.

With all this in mind, why should we be concerned about what the Law teaches and keeping it? Why does God care so much about our behavior? It is because these “rules” are actually boundaries set out of love. They are designed to protect us, to protect others, and to guide us into the fullness of life that God intends for us.

Consider how the first four commandments focus on our relationship with God, calling us to worship him alone, avoid idolatry, honor his name, and keep the Sabbath holy. The remaining six commandments address our relationships with others, instructing us to honor our parents, and prohibiting murder, adultery, theft, false witness, and coveting. Together, these remind us of our need for God’s guidance and grace and challenge us to live lives that honor him and respect the dignity of others. The Law is not about restriction; It is about love, ensuring that we live in harmony with God and each other.

However, simply following the rules isn’t enough. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 5:20, where He says, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” This would have shocked his listeners, who saw the Pharisees as the epitome of righteousness. How could anyone surpass their devotion to the Law?

The key lies in the heart. The Pharisees focused on outward obedience, but Jesus calls us to inward transformation. He challenges us to go beyond mere rule-keeping to embrace the spirit of the Law, which is love. As Jesus later rebukes the Pharisees in Matthew 23:25-26, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside also may become clean.”

True righteousness begins in the heart. It is not just about what we do but why we do it. Jesus is calling us to a righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees—a righteousness that comes not from legalistic adherence but from a heart transformed by grace.

And this is where grace comes full circle. Grace is not just the forgiveness of sins; It is the power to live a new life. It is the strength to love God and others as he has loved us. Our obedience, then, is not an act of legalism but an act of grace—grace that we have received and grace that we now extend through our actions to others.

Saint Augustine, a theologian from the 5th century, beautifully captured this truth when he said, “Love God and do as you please.” The point he was making is that when you truly love God, your desires align with his. You no longer want to do what is wrong; you desire to do what pleases him because love transforms our motives and our actions.

Jesus reinforces this in John 14:15, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” Notice He doesn’t say, “If you fear me, obey my commandments,” or “If you want to avoid hell, obey my commandments.” He says, “If you love me.” Our obedience is the natural outflow of our love for Christ, a love that has been inspired by the grace he has shown us.

In conclusion, behind each commandment—“You shall not murder,” “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”—there is a purpose. That purpose is to guide us into a life of love, to protect us from harm, and to help us build a community where love, justice, and peace flourish.

God gave us the Law not as a burden but as a gift. It is an expression of his love, a way to lead us into the abundant life he desires for us. When we obey God’s commandments, we do so not out of fear or convenience but out of love. We do so as an act of grace, responding to the grace we have already received through Jesus Christ.

Let us embrace this grace-filled path of obedience. Let us see beyond the rules to the love that underpins them. And let our lives be a reflection of the grace we have received as we love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.