The purpose of law and grace according to Romans

How can the child who willingly disobeys his parent’s clear commands and runs away from home ever expect grace when he sees the folly of his ways? How can he anticipate anything but judgement knowing that he has gone against all his parents’ wishes and abandoned the loving home he came from? How much less can a man expect grace from the loving and just Creator whom he has sinned against in every possible way at every possible opportunity? The book of Romans is the authority in telling man how it is possible that man can be reconciled to the Lord and this paper will deal with the purpose of law and grace in each person’s life.
Before a man can understand and appreciate the grace of the Lord, he must see his own inadequacy. Like the prodigal son, he must see how far he is from his father’s heart, how he has transgressed against his commands and how he is deserving of nothing but slavery. (Lu. 15:17-19) The law serves as a mirror to reveal this darkness of his own heart in contrast to the light of God. Without it, man sees himself in comparison to the depravity of mankind around him and declares himself ‘okay’. The law of God however is the perfect ruler announcing the unflinching requirements of God. (Ro. 7:12)
The Bible clearly teaches that each man has the revealed will of God for perfection in his conduct towards Him and his fellow man within his conscience. (Ro. 1:14) Furthermore, it teaches that not a single person living stands up to the standards of the law and by it no man can be proclaimed as just. (Ro. 1:13) What is the result of this falling short? Can God allow the soul who falls short to simply live and let live? Can He, against His very nature, dare to permit him to enter a new heaven and new earth and thereby defile a whole new creation? No because God, being just and holy, must judge each man according to his life and works. (Ro. 6:23, He. 9:27)
We know that only the man who sees his horrid state before God and His rightful judgement on him as a sinner damned, can accept the grace of God. (Ro. 7:7-9, Ga. 3:24) He must humble himself before the Lord and ask for forgiveness. But there has to payment made for sin. There has to be a basis for forgiveness. Without the sacrifice of Christ, taking our sin upon Him, there is no hope of justification or right standing with God. (Ti. 3: 4-7) Through this provision of an offering, he can receive the grace of God.
Grace is often defined as receiving what we don’t deserve from God. Because God is gracious He reveals a man’s sinful state, paves the way for salvation, points to it, and lets him lean on Him the whole way home. He offers this covenant of grace to all who will receive it. (Ro. 3:24, 5:15) Under this ‘contract’, man is held up by the beautiful grace of God. Knowing we could never measure up to His standard of holiness, Christ completed that standard for us and presents us in His own righteousness before the Father. Through the grace of God, taken by faith, we are granted peace with God. (Ro. 5:2)
Once a man is in the salvation of Christ, grace continues to work in his life until the day he is found perfected in the presence of the Lord. There are numerous ways that grace takes effect. One of the biggest out-workings of grace in a man’s life is the good works that come about by necessity of being a child of God and being a living temple of the Holy Spirit. Paul received grace to be an apostle and he writes boldly because of the grace given to him. (Ro. 1:5, 15:15) The believer has gifts given in grace to build up the brethren and is given sufficient grace to be continually abounding in good works to those outside the church as well. (Ro. 12:6) The simple grace of God is needed for every single thing a Christian does. Without it, he relies on his own resources to accomplish the will of God; the fruit of which cannot be accepted. (Ro. 8: 7,8)
Probably the biggest effect of grace as it relates to our relationship with God is the way it paves for us to have communion with God. Again, because of the sacrifice of Christ trusted in by faith, we are made right with God and cleansed by His blood. But through the marvelous grace of God, we are able to draw to Him and enter into a deep personal relationship with Him. (He. 4:16) It is even His grace that pulls us to be in fellowship with Him, to seek Him and spend time with Him; it is even His grace that grows our knowledge of Him and molds us more and more into His image.
It is amazing to me to see how God has orchestrated each part of His gospel to bring Him glory as the Creator, Savior, Redeemer. How He established the law both in our hearts and through Moses to bring knowledge of sin and judgement. How He provided Himself the propitiation and substitute to take our punishment. How He brought this truth to each of us, offering salvation and vital relationship to Himself for eternity. How all this was brought about because He is our gracious Father. “How can I keep from singing Your praise? How can I ever say enough? How amazing is Your love!”