From Law to Grace
From uniformity to grace—clothed in Christ, we move freely in His light.
Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash
In today’s reflection, E. Stanley Jones draws our attention to the subtle tension in Paul’s writings—how at times he seems to slip from the liberating truth of grace back into the constraints of law, particularly when speaking about women. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul initially refers to the creation order to describe the subordination of women, echoing themes from the law and the Old Testament. Yet, just a few verses later, the light of grace breaks through as Paul writes, “Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman... and all things are from God.”
Jones points out that this shift—“in the Lord”—marks a redemptive turning point. Under the law, distinctions in value and position are drawn, often leading to inequality. But in the Lord, the hierarchy is dissolved; mutual dependence and equal worth are restored. Grace doesn't merely forgive our sins—it liberates us from outdated moral structures and cultural constructs that limit and diminish.
Paul, like many of us, was on a journey—being pulled from old patterns rooted in law toward the higher ground of grace. And in grace, personhood is restored, and relationships are transformed. No longer do we measure by status, gender, or tradition. In Christ, we are made new. The gospel doesn’t only redeem us from evil—it redeems us from the lesser forms of good that still keep us bound.
✍🏼 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I have not called you to live under the shadows of the law, but in the light of grace. You are no longer tethered to systems that assign worth based on origin, role, or rank. In Me, you are a new creation, and you now regard no one according to the flesh.
The law built walls; I have torn them down. The law made distinctions; I have made you one. What once divided—status, gender, tradition—has been eclipsed by the unity of My Spirit. There is neither male nor female, slave nor free, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Do not be surprised when old thinking stirs within you—it is not from Me. Even Paul had to unlearn, had to be drawn deeper into grace, had to move from what was lawful to what was life-giving. I did not call you to uphold the systems of man, but to embody the love of the Son.
Every person you meet is someone for whom I died. Each one bears My image. In the Lord, there is no higher or lower, no dominant or subordinate—only beloved. So walk as one who is free. Speak as one who belongs to grace. And honor others as fellow heirs of life.
Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 11:8–12; Galatians 3:28; 2 Corinthians 5:16–17; 1 Corinthians 14:34; Ephesians 2:14–15
🧺 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like switching from a rigid school uniform to clothes that reflect your personality. Under the law, everyone wore the same cut, the same color, bound by external standards. But grace lets you wear what fits who you truly are—still modest, still covered, but free to move, express, and breathe. You’re not confined anymore—you’re clothed in Christ.
🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that I am no longer measured by old categories. In Christ, I am made new, and so is everyone I meet. You have brought me out from the shadows of comparison, tradition, and hierarchy into the wide-open space of grace. I trust You to keep transforming my mind, exchanging the remnants of law for the fullness of love. I rejoice in the freedom of life in the Lord, where all things are from You, and all are made one.