This morning we begin a series on the Book of Galatians. We are calling this series, “People of Grace.” In the next seven weeks we are going to gain an appreciation for grace. God’s amazing grace!
This is how the series is going to be preached. Today we are going to look at an overview of what it means to be people of grace from looking at several verses from different chapters of the book of Galatians. It’s like looking at the big picture. When you get a family portrait done professionally you are offered the same picture in different sizes. Today we will look at an 8 by 10 portrait of what it means to be people of grace.
Here is a quick background to the book of Galatians. The author of the book is the Apostle Paul. He founded a number of churches on his first missionary journey in the province of Galatia which is now modern day Turkey. After establishing the churches as people of Grace Paul moved on to establish more churches.
No sooner had Paul left when false teachers came and through their false teachings changed the churches into people of rules, rituals and religion. So Paul writes this letter to try and turn his readers back to grace.
Today we are going to look at seven answers to the question “Who exactly are people of grace”?
Answer 1. People of Grace are people saved by God. (1:3-5)
“Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
A. Every person needs to be saved from two enemies.
1. Their sins.
Every lack of conformity to, or violation of the moral will of God is a sin. It is our sins which prevent us from spending eternity with God.
2. The present evil age.
You and I can only be saved from our sins and this present evil age through God’s intervention of Grace.
You are I are saved by the will of the Father and the work of the Savior.
It is God’s will to save us from our sins and from this present evil age. If it were not his will no one could be saved.
We are saved also by the work of the savior who gave himself for our sins.
When you allow Christ to rescue you; the result is grace and peace from God. We receive Grace and Peace and God receives the Glory forever.
Answer 2. People of Grace are People who are Sons and Daughters of God. (3:26-29)
“You are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for you were baptized into Christ, having clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”
1. You are sons and daughters of God
Is not everyone already a son or daughter of God? No! Only those who have put their faith in Christ can become sons or daughters of God. The moment you put your faith in Christ you are baptized into Christ and God’s family by the work of the Holy Spirit. You are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. You are now more than Irish, European, Indian, Asian or North American. You are citizens of heaven.
2. You are also sons and daughters of Abraham.
Answer 3. People of Grace are People set apart by God (1:15)
“But when God who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased to reveal his son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles.”
Grace not only saves us; it also sets us apart for God. We are set apart by grace. We are set apart for the pleasure of God. And what is the pleasure of God? To reveal his son in us! God reveals his son in us that we might reveal him to others. We receive firsthand in order that others reveal secondhand. Grace sets us apart. It is not religion, rituals or rules that set us apart.
Answer 4. People of Grace are People sent by God (1:1)
“Paul, an apostle- sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father- who raised him from the dead-and all the brothers with me.”
Paul starts his letter with the statement “I am sent by God.” Imagine the difference it will make if we began each day with the same thought. I am sent by God. Who is this God who sends us? He is the God who gives life to the dead. We are sent by God to bring life to those things that are dead. How do we do this? By Grace! Grace brings life to dead things.
Answer 5. People of Grace are people who speak for God (1:6-10)
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the gospel of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which really is no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men or God? Or am I trying to please men. If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
In this passage Paul is clearly speaking for God. He received this right to speak for God through the grace of God. Speaking for God is a matter of eternal consequences. When we share the grace and gospel of God we are speaking for God.
Not everyone who claims to be speaking for God is. The problem with the Galatians is that they were now confused about who was speaking for God. They had made a fatal mistake and were listening to the wrong people. They were siding with the false teachers. As a result they were deserting God, the gospel and the grace of Christ.
Why is it difficult to speak for God at times? Simply, if you speak for God you run the risk of displeasing men. If you speak for God you are going to run the risk of losing the approval of men.
Answer 6. People of Grace are people who are strengthened by God (3:2-5)
“I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing? Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?”
People of grace are people who are strengthened by God’s Spirit. How do we receive spiritual strengthen? By believing what we heard. The same way you are saved is the same way by which you are strengthened.
Paul argues that if you believe you are saved by observing the law you are naturally going to observe the law as your source of strength. But since we are saved by believing we are also strengthened by believing.
Answer 7; People of Grace are people who are servants of God (5:13-15)
“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command; love your neighbor as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be devoured by each other.
We are called to be free to serve one another. We have now a servant nature to combat our sinful nature. There is no “I” in servant. Serving one another fulfills the entire law and is an extension of grace.
