Law vs. Grace? Law and Grace?

In Rushdoony's book, he makes an almost hilarious but shockingly obvious statement: "The alternative to law is not grace; it is lawlessness." This statement is telling in that law and grace are actually intertwined instead of opposing forces. Grace is not in opposition to law, but rather is a component of it.

Redemption is implicit in the very nature of law and punishment. The law lines out the very way to get right with God--death being the ultimate way. A thief has to repay two to seven fold what he stole, then he is right with the physical law. He is redeemed. But we know further redemption is needed because of our sin in Adam and because the ultimate price for sin is death.

However, is the death penalty all bad? Is there no good in it? Is it unrighteous? Consider that without the death penalty there would be no way Jesus could have paid the price. Without a price, none could be paid. Never mind that we could never pay it and live. It did exist and praise God that there is punishment for sin! If there were none, then Jesus could not then pay it. The fact that it is impossible for us to redeem ourselves makes His redemption all that much more miraculous.

Now, in this physical world, what is God's law? It is pure justice. But also it is a way that transforms a society into something that glorifies God. It becomes safer, more productive and its very punishment of sins/crimes points to the Lawgiver. He is glorified when we follow His laws as His people.

So, law is not in opposition to grace, but rather grace is implicit in the punishments of the law. Without the punishments of the law, there would be no provision for redemption. Law is grace!