Law and Gospel
The Law and the Gospel are the two main teachings of the Bible.
The Law
The Law is God's rule for human behavior:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37, 29
The Law is further defined in the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Christ. God's
Law requires a life perfectly free from sin in thought, word, and deed--an impossible
requirement for anyone to meet, since the fall of Adam and Eve into sin.
The Law defines the punishment for sin: death in this life and eternal damnation (separation from God). The Law leaves no hope for humankind to escape God's just punishment for sin.
[more about the Law and our need for a Savior]
The Gospel
The Gospel is fulfillment of God's plan of salvation for humankind. God sent a substitute to take the punishment for the sin of all humankind. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, lived a life perfectly free from sin. By his death on the cross, he suffered the punishment meant for humankind.
For all who believe in Christ as their Savior, God covers their sin with the righteousness of Christ. Those who reject Christ reject God's forgiveness.
[more about the Gospel and God's plan of salvation]
Related Bible Passages
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Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law.
Romans 3:20 -
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 -
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Romans 3:28 -
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
Romans 1:16