An acronym of Grace is God’s rescue at Christ’s Expense
You could say that it is the greatest rescue mission ever undertaken.
Man in his sinful state in total isolation from God ~longingly looking back into the past in the Garden of Eden, but in our own strength never able to achieve that fellowship or level of intimacy with God! Then out of eternity and into history Messiah bursts. Grace cost Yeshua everthing! And we can give nothing to deserve this great favour!
There are many Christians who are saved by Grace but keep trying to keep being saved through the Law!
This was true of the Galatian Christians
Galatians 3 Oh, foolish Galatians! What magician has cast an evil spell on you? For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death as clearly as though I had shown you a signboard with a picture of Christ dying on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
Pauls question to the Galtians was answered in chapter 3:11
10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all these commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”* 11 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.”
Does this allow us to just sin with abandon? Of course not
Phil 2:12-13
12 Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
This is Grace. “
1) God is working in you
2) Giving you the desire to obey Him
3) Giving you the power to do what pleases Him.
The key is Yield top Jesus! ~He is the one who performs the works of Righteousness .
When we are saved we do good works because we are saved ~ not in order to be saved. A Dog barks because he is a Dog not in order to become a Dog.
So where does the Law fit in?
Rom 7:16 “Wherefore the law is holy and just and good.
Romans 19:7-8 “The law is perfect and right”
So obviously the law is
Holy, Good, Just, perfect and right.
Grace is God’s unmerited favour. Love towards us (While we were yet sinners)
A) under the law God demands righteousness
B) Under Grace God gives righteousness through Christ.
There is a problem if we try to live according to the law by our own strength,
The bible says there is none righteousness, no not one!
The problem is we cant keep the Law.
The Law says Obey me and live!
Grace says whoever hears and believes has passed from death into life! John 5:24
The law says you must die for your sin!
Grace offer peace and pardon through the death of another
The Law condemns every person ever born
Grace says “There is no condemnation in Christ.
The Law can never justify a sinner
Grace forgives the sinner through the death of Christ
So why was the Law given?
Acts 13: 38 “Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God—something the Jewish law could never do.
But without the law man would have no knowledge of Sin
Gal 3:24 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came. So now, through faith in Christ, we are made right with God. 25 But now that faith in Christ has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
The law is our School master to bring us to Christ.
So the law is wonderful, without it we would never see Christ
Man doesn’t deserve anything! But God loved us John 3:16
So our conclusion is:
Don’t despise the law embrace it, not in bondage to it, but to allow it to show you your sin. And then allow Christ to forgive you.
1 JOHN 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.
Forgiveness is the way of God because it accepts we have done wrong, But there is mercy. Forgiveness dosnt justify a bad action, or excuse it. Rather when we seek forgiveness we find mercy!
People need to be told not to be so hard on themselves! If God is prepared to forgive you, why can’t you forgive you?
God moves in our moving. Once our will is set in motion we can expect the power of God to assist us. Even though we may slip and fall in this pursuit of forsaking sin, the blood of Christ is still effective to cleanse us.
This is the wonder and grace of the cross of Christ.
The Law kills
The cross brings resurrection life!
Embrace the Grace of God today and receive Jesus as your Lord and master.
