In the law it is written, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe,” but grace has given us healings for stripes and forgiveness for wounds. When Jesus walked the earth, He gave the lame back their feet, to the man with a withered hand He gave a hand, to the blind He gave eyes, and He takes our penalty of death to preserve us from the fire of the second death; where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” There is more to laying down ones life than dying. Jesus first lived a life of laying down His life for us. God picked His life up and gave it back to Him; being God completely (Holy) He could not leave life in the grave, but gave life for life.

God is giving a hand for a hand, not taking one hand away but giving back the hand that is missing. The eye of the blind is replaced, the foot of the crippled is replaced, and life is given for death. It is restoration and not retaliation. He did these things by taking our stripes – stripe for stripe, and our penalty – life for life. Grace does not break the law, but has fulfilled the law so completely that there remains no other remedy for the law for those who believe. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). Our righteousness cannot come from law, for righteousness is born from the grace of God sent in love. God laid down His life to take the penalty of sin from us; God has given life for life. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

© 2011, Tim D. Coulter Sr.