The Grace Of God (II)
TOPIC: THE GRACE OF GOD (II)
Read: Galatians 5:1-6
MEMORISE: For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
EXPOSITION
To have deeper understanding of what grace of God is, we need to know the correlation and the difference between grace and the law. The law stands for the Old Testament and it was given by Moses. Grace stands for the New Testament as it was given by Christ. As earlier said, grace is God’s unmerited and undeserving favour which He bestows on all those who repent and trust in Christ. Grace has been used as an acronym: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. If grace were merited, then it wouldn’t be grace anymore, but salvation by works; but no one is saved by works (Rom. 11:6).
No one will be saved through the works of the law (Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 2:16). That is good news for us because, no one can possibly keep the Law perfectly with his/her own strength. We all need grace – God’s grace. We do not keep the law in order to be saved, but we are able to keep the law after we have been saved. Ability to keep the law is an expression of the grace of God upon our lives (2 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 3:20).
Now, what is the purpose of the law? The law was intended to show us what sin is. We wouldn’t know what sin is, except by the law (Rom.7:7). The law was put in place to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24). The law clearly demonstrates that no human being can purify himself enough to please God. The law thus reveals our need for a saviour. The law shows us what God wants (holiness). Grace is better, higher and most desirable in the sense that it gives us the desire and power to be holy. Christ fulfilled the law on our behalf and offers the power of the Holy Spirit who motivates the regenerated heart to live in obedience to Him (Matt. 3:8; Acts 1:8; 1 Thes. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:14). You can declare that sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace as a partaker of divine grave (Rom.6:14).
In a nutshell, we don’t struggle to live a perfect Christian life. We all need the grace to do it. If you are still struggling to live a practical Christian life, ask for enough grace to do it, and it shall be given to you.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, let Your grace give me burning desire and power to practice holiness, in Jesus’ amen.
2. As a believer of the New Testament, I refuse to be entangled again with the yoke/bondage of Satan, sin and hell.
3. Help us, Lord, to enjoy the freedom from Your grace for the betterment of our lives, and for Your own glory.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
• Another reason many of us cannot shine is because we refuse to pay the price to shine.
• You can tell the character of a man by the friends he keeps.
• And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." - Luke 12:15
• When will the goat be strong enough to kill a leopard.
• Kidnapping power, I rebuke you by thunder, in the name of Jesus.
Read: Galatians 5:1-6
MEMORISE: For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
EXPOSITION
To have deeper understanding of what grace of God is, we need to know the correlation and the difference between grace and the law. The law stands for the Old Testament and it was given by Moses. Grace stands for the New Testament as it was given by Christ. As earlier said, grace is God’s unmerited and undeserving favour which He bestows on all those who repent and trust in Christ. Grace has been used as an acronym: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. If grace were merited, then it wouldn’t be grace anymore, but salvation by works; but no one is saved by works (Rom. 11:6).
No one will be saved through the works of the law (Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 2:16). That is good news for us because, no one can possibly keep the Law perfectly with his/her own strength. We all need grace – God’s grace. We do not keep the law in order to be saved, but we are able to keep the law after we have been saved. Ability to keep the law is an expression of the grace of God upon our lives (2 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 3:20).
Now, what is the purpose of the law? The law was intended to show us what sin is. We wouldn’t know what sin is, except by the law (Rom.7:7). The law was put in place to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24). The law clearly demonstrates that no human being can purify himself enough to please God. The law thus reveals our need for a saviour. The law shows us what God wants (holiness). Grace is better, higher and most desirable in the sense that it gives us the desire and power to be holy. Christ fulfilled the law on our behalf and offers the power of the Holy Spirit who motivates the regenerated heart to live in obedience to Him (Matt. 3:8; Acts 1:8; 1 Thes. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:14). You can declare that sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace as a partaker of divine grave (Rom.6:14).
In a nutshell, we don’t struggle to live a perfect Christian life. We all need the grace to do it. If you are still struggling to live a practical Christian life, ask for enough grace to do it, and it shall be given to you.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, let Your grace give me burning desire and power to practice holiness, in Jesus’ amen.
2. As a believer of the New Testament, I refuse to be entangled again with the yoke/bondage of Satan, sin and hell.
3. Help us, Lord, to enjoy the freedom from Your grace for the betterment of our lives, and for Your own glory.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
• Another reason many of us cannot shine is because we refuse to pay the price to shine.
• You can tell the character of a man by the friends he keeps.
• And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." - Luke 12:15
• When will the goat be strong enough to kill a leopard.
• Kidnapping power, I rebuke you by thunder, in the name of Jesus.
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