I. EXORDIUM:
Are we under the law or under grace?
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show the advantages our own dispensation of grace.
IV. TEXT:
Galatians 5:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.
V. THESIS:
If you keep the law to be right with GOD, you have fallen from Grace.
VI. TITLE:
Law vs. Grace
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Apostle Paul
B. Main Theme: Defense of "Justification by Faith" warnings against "Reversion to Judaism"
C. Date of Writing: Probably 55-60 A.D.
D. Audience: Church in Galatia
E. Key Text: Galatians 5:1
Galatians 5:1 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
F. Emphatic Words: Faith, grace, liberty and the cross
VIII. MAIN BODY:
A. What is the Law?
Law came from Greek word:"Nomos" meaning generally regulation or law of Moses. (The 10 Commandments)
1. Anyone can easily break the law. (1 John 3:4)
Law is breakable.
1 John 3:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.
2. GOD gave the law. (James 4:12)
James 4:12 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?
3. The law refers to the Ten Commandments. (James 2:11)
James 2:11 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.
4. The Law offers temporary relief from sins by using blood of animals. (Hebrews 10:8)
Hebrews 10:8 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).
5. The Law is the old system, a shadow of good things to come. (Hebrews 10:1)
Hebrews 10:1 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
6. The Law is perfect, right and good. (Romans 7:12)
Romans 7:12 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.
7. When you learn to obey it, it gave power to sin. (Romans 7:9-10)
Romans 7:9-10 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life,
and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead.
B. What is Grace?
Grace came from Greek word: "charis" meaning literal, figurative or spiritual graciousness, especially the Divine influence upon the heart, and it's reflection in the life. Acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace, joy, liberality, pleasure, thanks
1. GOD gave us more grace to be holy like Him. (1 Peter 1:2)
1 Peter 1:2 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.
2. Grace came when JESUS CHRIST was accepted. (John 1:17)
Something personal
John 1:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
3. Grace brought salvation to us. (Acts 15:11)
Acts 15:11 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
4. Grace gives permanent solution to sin - forgiveness because of CHRIST's blood. (Ephesians 1:7)
Ephesians 1:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
5. Grace gave us new life. (Ephesians 2:5)
Ephesians 2:5 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
6. Grace is under the new covenant (Hebrews 10:29)
Hebrews 10:29 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.
7. Whenever we're weak, GOD's power is made perfect in us because of His Grace (2 Corinthians 12:9)
2 Corinthians 12:9 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
8. When sin increased, Grace increases all the more. (Romans 5:20, Romans 6:1)
Romans 5:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
Romans 6:1 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?
9. Grace reigns thru righteousness from our LORD. (Romans 5:21)
Romans 5:21 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
10. Grace allows us to depend on the LORD not on our good works. (Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8-9)
Romans 11:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
C. Differences of Law and Grace In the Scriptures:
1. Law given, grace came. (John 1:17)
John 1:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
2. Law makes people realize their sinful nature, grace became abundant when there's sin. (Romans 5:20)
Romans 5:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
3. Law makes you slave to sin, Grace makes you free. (Romans 6:14-15)
- dead to sin, alive in CHRIST
- Slaves to righteousness
Romans 6:14-15 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!
4. Law could not make us right with GOD, CHRIST's death was a gift to us to make us righteous. (Galatians 2:21)
Galatians 2:21 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
5. You are fallen from grace if you keep the law. (Galatians 5:4)
Galatians 5:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.
6. Faith by Grace can justify both those of the law (old covenant) and the new covenant believers (Romans 4:16)
Romans 4:16 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.
7. GOD gave us inheritance by grace not keeping the law. (Galatians 3:18)
Galatians 3:18 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Galatians 5:4 (New Century Version)
If you try to be made right with God through the law, your life with Christ is over—you have left God’s grace.
Gal 5:4 (Magandang Balita Bible)
Ang nagsisikap na maging matuwid sa paningin ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pagtupad sa Kautusan ay napahiwalay na kay Cristo at wala nang karapatan sa habag ng Diyos.
Gal 5:4 (Good News Bible)
Ang nagsisikap na maging matuwid sa paningin ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pagtupad sa Kautusan ay napahiwalay na kay Cristo at wala nang karapatan sa habag ng Diyos.
