“Grace or Law”
Galatians 2
Sermon Series: “Choice”
Main Idea: Jesus alone is the only way to God, and the only way to receive Jesus is by grace alone through faith alone.
Last week, we saw that Jesus alone is the only way to God. We must choose the gospel over religion. Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to look at how we receive Jesus, which is by grace through faith. Today, we are going to focus on the reality that we must choose grace instead of law. We cannot mix the two together and really be trusting Jesus.
What is grace? It is defined as God’s unmerited favor. It is basically God choosing to forgive and bless us in Christ instead of giving us the punishment that we deserve. Mercy is God withholding our punishment, and grace is Him blessing us instead.
The Law is a complex subject, but it was basically God’s instructions for how His people were to live in a covenant relationship with Him. According to Galatians 3, the law :
1. Does not undo the promise of God, which came first (v. 17-18).
2. Was temporary until Jesus fulfilled the promise (v. 19-20).
3. Was never intended to bring life (v. 21).
4. Shows us our sinfulness and need for Jesus to save us (v. 22-24).
5. Is no longer controlling us (v. 25).
The Revell Concise Bible Dictionary says, “To say that we are not under law does not mean that Christians are released from the obligation live a righteous life, but rather that we will not find righteousness through attempts to keep the detailed instructions of Moses. Paul argues that the death of Christ releases believers from any obligation to the Mosaic system, which failed to produce righteousness. For Christ, by making us alive to God, has made possible a truly righteous life that makes the old system irrelevant (Romans 6:11-13).
Why should we choose living by grace over living under the law?
1. Grace brings freedom while the law brings bondage (v. 4-5) [see also Romans 5 and 6]
2. Grace gives us security (v. 6).
A. Security in our identity (v. 6). Paul said, “But those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.” This is because we are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10).
B. Security to accept people (v. 6-7, 11-14).
C. Security to do what God has called me to do (v. 7-10).
D. Security to boldly stand for the gospel (v. 11-21).
3. The works of the law never make anybody right with God, but we are made right with God only through faith in Jesus (v. 15-16). Grace and faith always go together because grace is always received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). James Boice has written, “This experience does not happen automatically to all men. It is true that God justifies, but he does so only as he unites a man or woman to Christ, a union that takes place only through the channel of human faith. Faith is the means, not the source, of justification. Faith is trust. It begins with knowledge, so it is not blind. It builds on facts, so it is not speculation. It stakes its life on the outcome, so it is not impractical. Faith is trusting Christ and proving his promises. The expression in the middle of v. 16, literally ‘we have believed into Christ,’ implies an act of personal commitment, not just assenting to the facts concerning Christ, but actually running to him for refuge and seeking mercy.”
4. The way to live is to have Jesus live in and through us (v. 20). We die to the law so Jesus can live in and through us. This is why Christians desire to live righteously even though we are not controlled by the law. Jesus gives us His desires and the power to obey, which the law could not do. He is living through us.
5. Jesus died for no reason if we can be saved through keeping the law (v. 21). Trusting the law nullifies the effect of the cross. The Father would not have poured His wrath out on His beloved Son if there was any other way.
