GREAT GRACE AND FREEDOM #2: GOOD NEWS FOR LES MISERABLES
INTRO TO TOPIC: Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to be studying the topic of Great Grace and Freedom in the book of Galatians.
QUOTE: “Galatians is a dangerous book. It exposes the most popular substitute for spiritual living that we have in our churches today – legalism… Galatians was Martin Luther’s charter of liberty during the (Protestant) Reformation.” (Warren Wiersbe, Be Free).
THE BIG IDEA: God saves us by his grace (undeserved favor) when we believe in Jesus. Our salvation is a gift from God, not a reward for the good things we have done.
AN OUTLINE OF GALATIANS:
1. PERSONAL: GRACE AND THE GOSPEL - Chapters 1-2
• Here we learn about the personal life of the Apostle Paul
2. DOCTRINAL: GRACE AND THE LAW - Chapters 3-4
• Here we look at the differences between grace and law
3. PRACTICAL: GRACE AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - Chapters 5-6
• Here we look at how to apply grace to our Christian living
I. PAUL EXPLAINS HIS AUTHORITY: (Galatians 1:1-5).
“1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
• Here Paul explains that he is an apostle – sent by God to proclaim His gospel
• The Gospel – good news = God’s grace (Jesus died for our sins to be forgiven).
• Grace is the one thing that sets Christianity apart from every other world religion.
• Other religions are man’s attempt to be right with God; Christianity tells how God sent Jesus to die on the Cross so we could have peace with Him.
AN ILLUSTRATION OF GRACE: JEAN VALJEAN FROM LES MISERABLES
The story of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables is a great example of grace.
• I read the book many years ago. Liza and I just saw the movie adaptation of the musical.
• “Les Misérables is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original French title, which can be translated from the French as The Miserables, The Wretched, The Miserable Ones, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims.” (Wikipedia.org).
• “Sentenced to a 19 year term of hard labor for the crime of stealing bread, Jean Valjean gradually hardened into a tough convict… At last Valjean earned his release. Convicts in those days had to carry identity cards, however, and no innkeeper would let a dangerous felon spend the night. For four days he wandered the village roads, seeking shelter against the weather, until finally a kindly bishop had mercy on him.” (Philip Yancey).
• I see in this story a powerful parallel with the teachings in Galatians, contrasting the law and grace. Jean Valjean is a guilty man, convicted of a crime. He experiences undeserved grace from a bishop, and the pursuit of the law from a policeman named Javert.
LES MISERABLES MUSICAL: Javert releases prisoner 24601 on parole (lyrics © 2013).
[Javert] Now bring me prisoner 24601, Your time is up
And your parole's begun, You know what that means
[Valjean] Yes, it means I'm free.
[Javert] No! Follow to the letter your itinerary, this badge of shame you’ll show
until you die, it warns you’re a dangerous man
[Valjean] I stole a loaf of bread.
My sister's child was close to death And we were starving.
[Javert] You will starve again Unless you learn the meaning of the law.
[Valjean] I know the meaning of those 19 years A slave of the law
• I love Victor Hugo’s description of the bishop’s gracious acceptance of Jean Valjean:
o The bishop, who was sitting near him, touched his hand gently and said, “You need not tell me who you are. This is not my house, it is the house of Christ. It does not ask any comer whether he has a name, but whether he has an affliction. You are suffering, you are hungry and thirsty; be welcome… What need have I to know your name? Besides, before you told me, I knew it… your name is brother.”
o That’s grace! To extend love, acceptance and forgiveness to a sinful person…
• “That night, Jean Valjean rose from bed, rummaged through the cupboard for the family silver, and crept off into the darkness. The next morning three policemen knocked on the bishop’s door with Valjean in tow. They had caught the convict in flight with the stolen silver and were ready to put the scoundrel in chains for life. The bishop responded in a way that no one, especially Jean Valjean, expected…
• “So here you are!” he cried to Valjean, “I’m delighted to see you. Had you forgotten that I gave you the candlesticks as well? They’re silver like the rest, and worth a good 200 francs. Did you forget to take them?” Jean Valjean’s eyes had widened. He was now staring at the old man with an expression no words can convey. Valjean was no thief, the bishop assured the police. “This silver was my gift to him.” When the policemen withdrew, the bishop gave the candlesticks to his guest, now speechless and trembling. “Do not forget, do not ever forget,” said the bishop, “that you have promised me to use the money to make yourself an honest man.” (Philip Yancey).
• The power of that act of grace transformed Jean Valjean’s life forever. He becomes a hero, a man who adopts and loves and cares for a young girl who loses her mother.
• However, the detective Javert, who knows no law but justice, stalks Valjean for the next two decades. In the end, Jean Valjean has a chance to kill Javert, but lets him go free.
• Throughout the whole Bible, we see two ways of relating to God: the law or grace.
• The law always condemns, grace always forgives.
• Like Jean Valjean, we deserve punishment, but God offers grace and mercy.
II. PAUL EXPRESSES HIS ANXIETY: (Galatians 1:6-7).
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
• There are many false teachings going around saying that we have to add something to the grace of God. Saying Christ’s death on the Cross was not sufficient.
• This is not really another Gospel – it is a perversion, that will trouble our lives.
III. PAUL EXPOSES HIS ADVERSARIES: (Galatians 1:8-10).
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”
• It’s too bad the Mormons didn’t know about this Scripture. Their cult leader Joseph Smith told them that an angel gave him a different Gospel – the Book of Mormon.
• Here’s an example of some of the things that Paul teaches about grace and the law later in Galatians: “Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” (3:11, NLT).
CLOSING STORY:
“Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:2-11).
• The Pharisees put the law before grace, justice before forgiveness. Just like Javert.
• Jesus said that grace is more important!
APPLICATION:
Let’s endeavor to extend grace to everyone we meet, to forgive instead of demanding justice.
Bibliography for Outline: “Be Free” by Warren Wiersbe.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
