Today we continue our series entitled, “Grace and Truth” by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Our main scriptures are John 1:14 & 17. Let’s look at them again.
(John 1:14 New International Version)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17 New International Version)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
In this series, we studied Galatians 3, 4, 5 and 6. Yesterday we looked at 6:14. Today we will look at verses 15 and 16.
(Galatians 6:15,16 Contemporary English Version)
15 It doesn’t matter if you are circumcised or not. All that matters is that you are a new person.
16 If you follow this rule, you will belong to God’s true people. God will treat you with undeserved kindness and will bless you with peace.
So what does this mean for you today? ???
1. Your works cannot make you right with God.
a) Paul said, “It doesn’t matter if you are circumcised or not. All that matters is that you are a new person.” (Galatians 6:15).
b) Several people in the Galatian church, who were Jewish converts to Christianity, were coercing non-Jews (Gentiles) to get circumcised so they could be right with God. The Apostle Paul made it clear, in several of His writings, that you cannot be made right with God by works. You can only be made right with God by faith in Jesus’ finished work. You have to get this down in your heart. Once you are Born-Again and you do works, do are NOT performing works TO BE saved. You are performing works BECUASE you are saved by grace when you expressed your faith in Jesus! That’s it!
c) Grace is not a license for laziness. By grace, you work. But you do so with the right mindset. Here is the mindset: “I don’t work FOR grace. I work BY grace!” There is a huge difference between the two. When you work FOR grace, you are trying to earn God’s righteousness. You can’t do that. Jesus did if for you. When you work BY grace, you have accepted what Jesus did for you, and you now embrace God’s empowering presence to do, through you, what you could never do without Him! This is why when you work BY grace, you work harder than you ever have in your life, but your body does not fall apart, your soul does not experience burn-out, and you sleep well. This happens because you are NOT the one doing it. It is the Father, living in You, giving you the words and performing the work!
2. The grace of God is available to all people.
a) The issue with circumcision was that it was reserved for Israelites. It was a physical symbol of the fact that God set them apart. But now, under the New Covenant, God’s grace is available to everyone everywhere. It does not matter if you are Jew or Gentile, Black or White, Hispanic or Asian, rich or poor, a General or a Private, the blood of Jesus makes us ALL ONE!
b) Since the grace of God has come to you freely, please share it freely and do so with ALL PEOPLE. Don’t be selective in your evangelism. Allow the grace of God on your life to bless everyone you come in contact with. Not just those who look or sound like you.
3. When you are led by the Holy Spirit you get to enjoy God’s grace and peace.
a) Paul said, “If you follow this rule, you will belong to God’s true people. God will treat you with undeserved kindness and will bless you with peace.” (Galatians 6:16).
b) When you get past the fact that you cannot follow all the rules, and you are simply be led of the Holy Spirit in all things, at all times, you will experience God’s grace and peace. The grace of God is His “undeserved kindness”. Mercy is when God withholds the punishment you do deserve. Grace is when He freely gives you blessing after blessing, after blessing, when you clearly do not deserve it. Thank God for His grace! And Paul tells us that God also gives us peace. This is is a peace that cannot be shaken. This is an inner peace that is not moved by what is going on externally. This is a peace that psychologists and psychiatrists cannot figure out. This is a supernatural peace. May God’s grace and peace be multiplied in your life today!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I have accepted Your Son, Jesus the Christ, as my Lord. He is the Lord of my life. Outside of Jesus, I am nothing. But in Christ, I can do all things. I work now every day. But I am not working FOR Your grace. Your grace cannot be earned. I am working BY Your grace. This means that I open my heart to Your empowering presence. You are ON me, IN me, WITH me, and FOR me. You empower me to do what I could never do without You. I get more done than I ever thought imaginable. Because I am NOT the one doing it. It is You, Father, living in me. You give me the words and You perform the work. So I enter this day as a conduit of Your grace in this world. I share Your grace and Your love with all people. And as I do, grace and peace are multiplied TO me and IN me! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
