I Fought the Law

Written by cycleguy on December 13th, 2010

I don’t suspect many (if any) of you will remember a song from the ’60s with the lyrics “I fought the law and the law won” by The Bobby Fuller Four.  All weekend long I have been forming a post in my head but wasn’t sure if I was going to do it or not.  I had planned on posting it late yesterday (Sunday) but we had a really full day and by the time I was done with that and shoveling that white stuff, I was shutting down.  On the way home the song came to my mind.  So…here goes my comparison post:

The Law destroys Grace builds

The Law enslaves Grace sets free

The Law chokes Grace releases

The Law is a burden Grace shares the yoke

The Law denounces Grace builds up

The Law curses Grace blesses

The Law blinds Grace gives sight

The Law cannot save Grace saves

The Law was defeated Grace is victorious

The Law was imperfect Grace is perfect

The Law kills Grace gives life

So…which one describes your life?  Finish the song out:  “I fought the Law and the Law (you fill in the blank).”  How will you fill it in?  And while you are at it…if you can add any more to my list please feel free to do so.  I would love to hear if you have any more comparisons for me.

 

23 Comments so far ↓

  1. Jim F. says:

    I remember the song but only from listening to it on the “Oldies” radio station.

    I wish I could say it was all Grace but there are certainly Laws mixed in.

    The Law paralyzes Grace runs

  2. Michael says:

    I’m a “little” younger but I know and love that song. :)The law chokes and grace releases best describes me.

    If I were to finish the song I’d fill it with…and it used to win…

    The law isolates and grace embraces.

  3. Toby says:

    The law is the standard set by the Most High.
    Grace is forgiveness when you don’t live up to that standard.
    And that…..is where I’m at.

  4. I echo your sentence…The law brings bondage, grace makes us free.
    I was a master at the law and lawlessness…only grace has brought healing and redemption. Only grace has given me hope when there was only hopelessness.
    Grace…my favorite word.
    Thank you Bill

  5. lindaM says:

    Hi Bill,
    you said,
    ‘The Law was imperfect- Grace is perfect’
    I’m going to say the law is perfect and righteous but man is imperfect and sinful.

    ‘The Law was defeated -Grace is victorious’
    I’m going to say that the Law was fulfilled and Grace became the new order of things. The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

    ‘The Law blinds -Grace gives sight’
    I’m going to say the Law exposed our sin and grace removes it.
    Gal 5:18
    Rom 8:1-4
    Rom 13:10 ‘love is the fulfillment of the law.’
    Matt 5:17
    I Tim 1:8
    Rom 7: 7-14
    Psalm 19:8
    Psalm 119: 29,62,105,106,151,160 It seems that grace came to us through the Law.

    Talk to you later.

  6. The law condemns. Grace justifies (or makes right).

  7. Jason says:

    Love the original version of that song and quite a few of the remakes.

    As for your question, I fought the law and the law kicked my … um … ample gluteus.

    Thank God for grace.

  8. Tony Alicea says:

    The law is judgement, grace is mercy.

    “Mercy triumphs over judgement” James 2:13

  9. jasonS says:

    I wouldn’t dare to say that I’m 100%, but grace has won in my life and my need for it never decreases, only increases. Thanks Bill. Great post.

  10. The law dominates, Grace Frees us

    For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace. Romans 6:14

  11. jay sauser says:

    …and the Law leaves me blinded sometimes.

  12. lindaM says:

    Hi Bill,

    Regarding the Law and its righteousness, Romans chp. 9 to chp. 11 seems to shed some light on this.

    Romans 9:31 says that Israel pursued a law of righteousness and did not attain it because they pursued it by works and not by faith. The Believers have received and attained the righteousness of the Law through faith.

    Romans 11:20 Israel was broken off because of unbelief. We stand by faith.
    Romans 11:23 If Israel does not persist in unblief they will be grafted back in. Paul says in vs 14 of chapter 11 that his hope is that he might be able to save some of his own people( the Jews) by their envy.
    Romans 11:15 Their rejection is the reconciliation of the world.

    Romans chp 11:26 seems to indicate that the Israelites were basically godless at the time of Christ. Without faith and sinfull.

    Romans 11:28 says the Israelites are enemies of the gospel but as concerning the election they are loved because of the patriarchs.

    Abraham, Isaac, Jacob?
    Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Gal3:6, Rom 4:3,9
    James 2:23 Faith without deeds is useless. Faith works or motivates action.

    Romans 11:30 we received mercy as a result of their disobedience. All men were given over to disobedience so that God may have mercy on us all.

    I think this last scripture disputes the theology that God is going to bring the nation of Israel today back to Him in the future without faith. They will have to come to belief in Christ and confession of Jesus as Lord just as we Gentiles did for our saving grace in God.

    just some thoughts.
    talk to you later.