God's Grace Not Set Aside
" I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:21 - New English Translation)
Paul ends this passage (verses 11-21) of rebuke with a clear statement. Grace and the law cannot be mixed. Either God makes us righteous through Jesus as an act of mercy even though we do not deserve it, or we earn righteousness by what we do. It is either Grace or works.
If we can please God through keeping the law, then Jesus died for no reason. There would be no need for His sacrifice. However, if we are saved by grace when we trust in Jesus, then there is no more need for the law.
Peter, by his actions, denied even the grace of God and made the death of Christ of no effect. Peter did not believe this. However, his behavior was sending the wrong message.
I am certain that when Peter heard Paul’s rebuke, he quickly accepted it. He made it clear to all assembled what he really believed. A good man is willing to be reproved when he is in error.
The main teaching of this passage is that we are free from the law because of Grace. We do not have to live according to a list of do’s and don’ts. However, we are to allow Jesus to live His life through our bodies! He lives in us.
The law makes us slaves. Jesus set us free. The law reveals our sinfulness. Jesus gives us righteousness. The law separates us from God. Jesus made us acceptable to God. The law shows that we are God’s enemies. Jesus brought us peace with God. In our strength, we cannot keep the law. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live as Christ would live.
A secondary lesson in this passage involves rebuking a fellow Christian in sin. Paul’s example shows that when an offense is public then a public rebuke is right. This is required in order to offset the negative influence upon others. When a Christian sins publicly, this will effect others. Such a person should be openly reprimanded for his behavior. This does not apply to private matters.
Christians are accountable to one another. We should expect to be held accountable. We should hold other believers accountable for their behavior. We are so worried about offending people that we have allowed a mediocre Christian life to become acceptable. It is not acceptable to God.
Paul ends this passage (verses 11-21) of rebuke with a clear statement. Grace and the law cannot be mixed. Either God makes us righteous through Jesus as an act of mercy even though we do not deserve it, or we earn righteousness by what we do. It is either Grace or works.
If we can please God through keeping the law, then Jesus died for no reason. There would be no need for His sacrifice. However, if we are saved by grace when we trust in Jesus, then there is no more need for the law.
Peter, by his actions, denied even the grace of God and made the death of Christ of no effect. Peter did not believe this. However, his behavior was sending the wrong message.
I am certain that when Peter heard Paul’s rebuke, he quickly accepted it. He made it clear to all assembled what he really believed. A good man is willing to be reproved when he is in error.
The main teaching of this passage is that we are free from the law because of Grace. We do not have to live according to a list of do’s and don’ts. However, we are to allow Jesus to live His life through our bodies! He lives in us.
The law makes us slaves. Jesus set us free. The law reveals our sinfulness. Jesus gives us righteousness. The law separates us from God. Jesus made us acceptable to God. The law shows that we are God’s enemies. Jesus brought us peace with God. In our strength, we cannot keep the law. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live as Christ would live.
A secondary lesson in this passage involves rebuking a fellow Christian in sin. Paul’s example shows that when an offense is public then a public rebuke is right. This is required in order to offset the negative influence upon others. When a Christian sins publicly, this will effect others. Such a person should be openly reprimanded for his behavior. This does not apply to private matters.
Christians are accountable to one another. We should expect to be held accountable. We should hold other believers accountable for their behavior. We are so worried about offending people that we have allowed a mediocre Christian life to become acceptable. It is not acceptable to God.
posted by David Frank Wilson | 5:59 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home