(Read Galatians 2:20,21)
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. When we last looked at this last week I wrote a message entitled, “Dying to the Law” from Galatians 2:17-19, where Paul said, “When I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God.” Let’s pick it up from there.
Paul went on to say, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Dying to self is God’s requirement of us. Paul said, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” God has never required any less than ALL of us. The cross is a symbol of death. It symbolizes Jesus’ physical death for our sin and our death to self and sin. Jesus taught that those of us who want to be His disciples must deny ourselves and willingly pick up our own personal crosses — dying to self — in order to follow Him!
2. A life of Grace is a life of faith and trust in God. Paul said, “I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Other translations use the word “faith” where this one uses “trust.” Actually, we need both. We are called to live by faith, standing on God’s promises, assured that they will come to pass in our lives, even when the pressure is on us to give up. When we know what God wants to do we have a resolve, a confidence, that it will come to pass and that confidence keeps us hopeful and in peace while we weather the storms in the space between the promise and the performance. And trust comes in when we are not sure what God will do. When we know, we have faith. When we don’t know, we still trust God; trusting that His best for our lives will manifest as we pursue His purpose.
3. Attempting to live by the Law makes the Grace of God meaningless to you. Paul said, “I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” If you think that by living right you can be right with God, and that by your own works you will make it to heaven, then Grace is meaningless to you and in your mind Jesus did not have to die. If you live this way you are more focused on you, your works, and your effort, than on what Jesus did for you.
4. Jesus had to die. Paul said, “If keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” None of us could be made right by doing right. And even if we could, none of us are good enough to keep the Law of Moses perfectly. The only human to ever keep the Law was Jesus. No human could ever be good enough to earn eternal life. Every human was born a sinner because of Adam, and every human has sinned in life more times than we want to acknowledge. If it were up to us, and our effort, we would all go to hell and suffer eternal damnation. Humanity could not provide an answer for ourselves. But God provided an answer. God sent His own Son, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, who suffered, bled, died and willingly paid for our sin. God then raised Him from the dead and He now does the same for us. Jesus had to die, because without Him we have no hope. But He did die and He rose from the dead with all power in His hand. When we accept Jesus as Lord we also die — to self and sin — in order to live for Him! If you are Born-Again you have done all the dying you are going to do. So now live for God with appreciation for what Jesus did, with acknowledgement that you only are who you are by the Grace of God, and with a laser-focus on God’s purpose for your life. This way you honor Jesus’ death for you.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for taking the time to teach me Your Word concerning Your Grace towards me. You knew I was born in sin, with reservations to hell, because of Adam. Adam left me in a mess, but You sent Your Son Jesus to get me out of it. I could never be good enough to earn eternal life. I have broken Your Law more times than I want to acknowledge. If I were judged solely upon my works, then I would have to go to hell. However, while I am not perfect, You sent Jesus to be perfect for me. While I could never keep the Law, Jesus kept it for me. While I have clearly sinned, Jesus paid the price for my sin FOR ME! Jesus took my place on Calvary’s Cross. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe for a price I could not pay. You saved me by Grace, through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Thank You Father for saving me by Your amazing and unearned Grace. You and I both know I did not deserve it, but Grace cannot be earned, it can only be received. I receive eternal life by Grace and I now pick up my personal cross, dying to self daily, and living for You! I was crucified with Christ and the life that I now life, in the flesh, I live by faith and trust in You! Without You I am nothing. I look back at the cross and say, “Thank You.” I look around at how much You have blessed me and I say, “Thank You!” I look forward to the purpose You have birthed me to complete and I say, “Thank You.” By faith I pursue the purpose You given me by Grace and by faith I declare that I shall complete it before I die! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
