(Read Galatians 3:11-14)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Yesterday we saw clearly, in the Word, that the Law brings a curse to all who rely on it to make them right with God. Let’s see what else Paul said in his letter to the believers in Galatia.
Paul wrote, “So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” I have made this point already, but it keeps coming up over and over again. No person can be made right with God by keeping a set of rules. And those who live by the Law, focused on keeping a set of rules, live very different lives from those who live by faith. Paul says, “The way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” I will highlight some of the difference in my closing points.
While the Law clearly brings a curse on all who break it, Paul said, “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.”
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s seek to glean a few golden nuggets:
1. No person can be made right with God by keeping a set of rules. Rules can’t make you right, but they sure can make you wrong.
2. Those who live by the Law, focused on keeping a set of rules, live very different lives from those who live by faith.
3. The Law-minded believer is attempting to please God with his performance, keeping a set of external rules, focused on what he CANNOT do.
4. The Grace-minded believer is seeking to live a life of faith, having been forgiven of the rules he has broken, he accepts forgiveness and seeks to be led of the Holy Spirit to perform the will of God in the earth. This believer knows the only thing the Father is requiring of him is to believe.
5. Under the Law we were unquestionably condemned. But Jesus gave up His righteousness in order to take our condemnation, and in turn the Father gives us the righteousness of Jesus when we accept Him as Lord.
6. There was no sin in Jesus and the Father made Him sin. There was no righteousness in us, and the Father made us righteous when we accepted Jesus as Lord.
7. Jesus paid our debt and now we get to live as righteous, forgiven and empowered believers by Grace.
8. Through Jesus, the Blessing of Abraham is now imputed on non-Jewish Christians. So we have the Blessing of Jesus and the Blessing of Abraham.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for loving me enough to teach me Your Word in a way that is easy to understand. The more I understand the curse associated with the Law, the more I want to say away from it. Christ redeemed me from the curse of the Law, becoming a curse for me. Jesus paid a price I could not pay, for a debt He did not owe. Jesus took my place and He paid for my sin. I now get to accept His righteousness and walk in the newness of the life He died to give me. While some focus on an external set of rules in order to live a life that is pleasing in Your sight, I take a different approach. I take the approach I believe Your Word teaches. I accept forgiveness of sin by Grace. And now, by faith, I seek to be led of Your Holy Spirit, who lives in me, in order to accomplish all You want to do in my life. I now know that You are not looking for me to earn Your blessing or to deserve Your goodness. You are not asking me to be perfect, but You do require me to believe. So by faith I declare that I remove every artificial limit I have ever placed on You, a limitless God, and I have the faith to believe everything You want to do in my life. No matter how big the assignment may seem in my eyes, I shall believe and receive it by faith. Not because I am so good, but because You are so good! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
