Law-Grace-Faith

"LAW-GRACE-FAITH" GALATIANS 3:6-14 INTRO: In the Word of God, there are 3 words that appear with much prominence throughout. These words are: LAW, GRACE, and FAITH. The word "law or laws" occur over 585 times. The word "grace" occurs 166 times! And the word "faith" appears over 244 times! But of these three, even though "law and faith" appear more frequently, the greatest of these is "grace!" The law shows us our need and gives us the knowledge of sin. Grace reveals God's provision to meet our need. And faith is the personal application of that provision to meet that need! But without grace, salvation would be impossible, for the SCRIPTURE says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9). Some place their trust in works to save them, yet the SCRIPTURE says, "…by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20). Again, the SCRIPTURE in Titus 3:5 tells us, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." No matter how good I perceive myself to be, nor how many good deed I perform; I can never be righteousness enough to please Almighty God! Isaiah 64:6 says—“…We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." So if keeping the law won't save me, what hope have I? The GRACE OF GOD! 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." To be saved, I must accept Christ's righteousness by faith as my own! I want us to look today at the Purpose of the LAW, GRACE, and FAITH. (1) BY THE LAW THERE IS CONDEMNATION GALATIANS 3:10-11—“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” A. IT DEMANDS A PERFECT OBEDIENCE ( v10). I want you to notice the last part of this verse—“…Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Notice it says “all things which are written in the book of the law…”. The Bible tells us in James 2:10—“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." As in the fable of the “Sword of Damocles,” how can a person ever feel secure when certain death is suspended above him by a fragile human hair? Anyone who depends on earning God's approval by keeping all his laws is haunted by the thought that one slip brings certain doom. (College Press New Testament Commentary. e-Sword. Version 7.8.5. Copyright 2000-2007. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide). Who here today is perfect? The Bible makes it clear that NO ONE is perfect (Romans 3:10; 3:23). The law demands perfection, and none of us are perfect, so none of us can keep the law! ILLUS: If you take a chain and break one of the links, then the whole chain is broken. If I break the law, then God says, "I have broken the whole law!" B. IT CANNOT JUSTIFY A TRANSGRESSION ( v11 ). Romans 3:24-25 tells us—“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” It is very easy to justify ourselves in our own eyes, but we don't merely deal with self, we must deal with God! Jesus told the Pharisees in Luke 16:15—“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Jesus went on to describe the Pharisees like this, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." (Matthew 23:27). We may appear holy and righteous before men, but we don't have to answer before men, but before God! The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 17:10—“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” C. IT IS A CURSE TO TRUST IN THE WORKS OF THE LAW. According to Galatians 3:10 trusting works of the law is to be under the curse. Our English word "curse" here in the Greek means "condemnation or future judgment". Jesus said in John 3:18-19—“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” This is an unyielding sentence against those who are trusting in their works to save them! Romans 3:19 tells us—“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” The law shows us our sin and our inability to keep God's righteous demands; that our mouth may be stopped and we will turn to Him for redemption! (2) BY GRACE THERE IS SALVATION JOHN 1:17—“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” A. OUR REDEMPTION FROM THE CURSE IS BY CHRIST. We read in Galatians 3:13b—"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law...". Because of the shedding of His blood we are now set at liberty and are no longer under the bondage of the law! (John 8:36; Galatians 5:1). ILLUS: If we or the world could be saved through human kindness or clear thinking, Jesus either would have formed a sensitivity group and urged us to share our feelings or would have founded a school and asked us to have discussions. But knowing the ways of God, the way of the world, and the persistence of human sin, he took up the cross, called disciples, gathered the church, and bade us follow him down a different path of freedom. (William H. Willimon, Leadership, Vol. 10, no. 4). B. OUR REDEEMER BECAME A CURSE FOR US. Christ became a curse for us. The last part of Galatians 3:13 says—“...Being made a curse for us…". Paul wrote in Galatians 4:4-5—“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” He became under the law, that He might redeem us who were under the curse of the law! (Isaiah 53:3-6). He kept every tenet of the law, for He couldn't be a curse for us if He was disobedient to the law! Jesus said in Matthew 5:17—“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” He willingly took our place, bore our penalty, when he hung on the tree (v13b)! 1 Peter 2:21-24 tells us—“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” He, the Righteous One died for the unrighteous! He the Just died for the unjust! (1 Peter 3:18). C. CHRIST REDEEMED US THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVED THE SPIRIT. We read in Galatians 3:14b—“...That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." It is a wonderful privilege to be redeemed from the curse of the law! It is an honor to have His Spirit dwelling in us so that we can live a life pleasing unto Him (Romans 8:14)! Is this not why we are saved? To please and serve God (Ephesians 2:10; Acts 1:8). Is not the promise of the Spirit given that we might be witnesses to His Almighty power and grace? (Psalm 107:2). (3) BY FAITH THERE IS JUSTIFICATION GALATIANS 3:11——"...The just shall live by faith" A. THE GLORY OF FAITH. Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness (v6 ). This was 430 yrs. before the law was given! The grace of God which brought us the promise of Eternal Life, given by Christ, foresaw by the SCRIPTURE before Abraham (v8), is an infinitely greater revelation of God than the law given by Moses! (James Smith. Handfuls on Purpose. Series 10. Volume 4. p. 154). Paul wrote in Romans 4:1-5—“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” In Romans 11:6 we read—“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” B. THE GUARANTEE OF FAITH. The law offers no promise, but is a command with a penalty for disobedience. (James Smith. Handfuls on Purpose. Series 10. Volume 4. p. 154). Having no promise then it cannot be faith, thus it cannot justify! (Romans 5:1-2). The GOSPEL is a promise of God secured by faith! (John 3:16, 5:24; Romans 10:9-10, 13). Since the GOSPEL is offered as a promise by faith to ALL; then it cannot be of works! (1 John 5:1, 4-5, 11-13). Since the GOSPEL is received by faith then there can be no boasting! (Romans 3:26-28). CLOSING: What the law could not do, grace did! Romans 8:2-4 says, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." God, by His grace made for us a WAY to come to Him! That WAY is Jesus! John 14:6 says—“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." The hymn-writer said in well when he penned these words: "Marvelous Grace of our Loving LORD, freely bestowed on all who believe. You who are longing to see His face, will you this moment of Grace receive? Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can avail to wash it away? Look there is flowing a crimson tide. Whiter than snow you can be today! Grace, Grace, God's Grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, Grace, God's Grace, Grace that is Greater than all our sin!"

BY THE LAW THERE IS CONDEMNATION, BY GRACE THERE IS SALVATION, BY FAITH THERE IS JUSTIFICATION. Friend, I ask you this morning, have you been a recipient of God's grace by faith in Him? No matter what you are trusting to take you to heaven; it is to no avail unless you have by faith accepted God's offer of grace!

Prepared by Brother Bryan L. Browning, Pastor of Beechmont Baptist Church, Beechmont, KY for Sunday Morning, October 21, 2007.