The Three Great Concepts of the Bible

There are three great concepts in the Bible, namely: God’s Law, Covenant, and Grace.

A – God’s Law

Generally, a law is a rule of conduct. Concerning the law of God, it is holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:8-10: “We know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and mothers, for killers, fornicators, sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.”

God’s law is a code of prohibitions that forbid all wrong actions and duties that command moral behaviors.

For example, the Decalogue has eight prohibitions or interdictions:

1. You shall have no other gods before me (1st Commandment)
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image (2nd Commandment)
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (3rd Commandment)
4. You shall not murder (6th Commandment)
5. You shall not commit adultery (7th Commandment)
6. You shall not steal (8th Commandment)
7. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (9th Commandment)
8. You shall not covet (10th Commandment)

The Decalogue has two duties or obligations:

1. You shall remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (4th Commandment)
2. Honor your father and mother (5th Commandment)

In the Old Testament of the Bible, the law of God is a code of ten commandments, several statutes, and judgments held to express the divine will (Deuteronomy 4:13-14). The Jewish people call the first five books in the Bible, written by Moses, the Torah. They contain 613 rules which include the Ten Commandments written by God on two stone tablets, and 603 rules written by Moses in his book (Deuteronomy 30:10, 16; Deuteronomy 10:5-6; Deuteronomy 31:24-25).

B – Covenant

Naturally, a covenant is a formal sealed agreement, testament, or contract. In the Bible, it is God’s promise to the human race (Genesis 9:8-12). There is no covenant without law. The Bible has two covenants that determine the Old and New Testaments. If the first covenant had 613 rules with ten commandments, the second has the laws of the Spirit in our hearts. Know that God is Spirit (John 4:24).

Covenant and law go together because there is never a covenant without law. Concerning the New Covenant, its laws are in our hearts. God said, “This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days (which represented 1,500 years of the first covenant): I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Hebrews 8:10-11). Yes, we have God’s commandments in our hearts today because we are spiritual Israel, according to Romans 9:6-8. Jehovah is God of all men and women. He is our Creator. If the commandments were written by God on stone tablets and given to Moses for native Israel, now they are written in all our hearts by Him, so that if we live by them, we represent spiritual Israel.

All of God’s laws are made for man (Numbers 15:15-16; Ezekiel 20:11; Mark 2:27). For, in every nation, whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted by Him as His people.

C – Grace

Grace means courteous goodwill or mercy. John 1:14-18 talks about it. Grace is the state of being sanctified by the favor of God. It is obtained by faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Many people believe that grace coincides with sin. Paul, in Romans 6:1-4 and 12-15, denounces such a belief. So, grace is dynamic and not static (Philippians 1:29-30). Paul said, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.” Amen!

May God bless you all in the name of Jesus!