John 1:17, For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ (own Greek translation).
Does this mean the law is evil? Not at all! It is holy, good, and righteous because it reveals what is unholy, evil, and unrighteous, namely, sin (Romans 7:7-13). But the law is not grace. What is grace? Grace is the favour/mercy of God (חֶסֶד, chesed) which He bestows upon those whom He chooses. Grace is God’s choosing us in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ before the foundation of the world; grace is His choice to make us holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1:4). This is what has been given to us through Christ. The law cannot be gracious; it can only kill. Yet it is by God’s gracious decision that He chose to save us from eternal death through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lutheran Column 