In part one it was described that the people of Israel had a choice when they entered the Land Of Canaan. They stood between two mountains; one representing blessing and the other representing curse for disobedience. Likewise every person born into this world also has a choice between two mountains, one representing Law and the other representing Grace.
The choice would seem easy…Grace! …Right? But that does not meet the need in the self-centered heart of man. If through grace I am reconciled to God, then it has nothing to do with me. I can’t work for it. I can’t be patted on the back for a job well done. I can’t be proud of my accomplishment! But if I can set up my own standard…For example if I go to church or I volunteer in my community or I work hard at trying to treat people nice…then I can keep it, that is the law of my own mind. Assuredly I did my best to keep the commandments. And certainly God would accept me for he knows how hard I have been working to try to attain His approval! He must be smiling on people like me, right?
More people go the way of the Law then by grace. Jesus said that many enter through the wide gate that leads to destruction and that only a few enter through the narrow gate that leads to life. (Matt 7:13,14) The Pharisees were the epitome of living by the law. They even tithed mint and every herb. But Jesus said to them that outwardly they appeared righteous to men, but inside they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matt 23:28)
The truth is that the law reveals sin – “It was added because of transgression, till the seed should come…(Gal 3:19) “For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.” (3:21) No law ever given creates righteousness. In the flesh, law actually arouses the sinful passions. (Rom 7:5) For example, how do you respond in your mind when you see a sign, ‘Don’t walk on the grass?’ If you are honest, I think you would admit that there is an initial reaction in your mind to rebel against the command. That’s what the law does. It instigates rebellion and reveals the truth about our desperately wicked heart.
So if you are thinking that you are keeping God’s law, you’re not! You may be keeping a set of laws that you have devised in your own mind; one which you think God will accept. He won’t! For this reason, you must come to Him on His terms. More on this in Part III.