What the “L a w” (CANNOT) do, GRACE CAN !
“GRACE” was always GOD’S Plan !
The “law” cannot save you, never could, never will.
Neither can any of your ‘works’, nor your attitude,
nor your ‘spirituality’. The ONLY thing that saves is:
(who?) “JESUS CHRIST, YESHUA MESSIAH !
Galatians 3:1
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not
obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been
evidently set forth, crucified among you?”
When GOD gave to Moses, lawful outlines, ( GOD’S Law(s) )
GOD explained HIS requirements for a holy people which included
three categories: civil, ceremonial, and moral laws.
The Law was given to separate GOD’S people from the evil nations
around them and to define “sin” (Ezra 10:11; Romans 5:13; 7:7).
The Law also clearly demonstrated that no human being could purify
himself enough to please GOD ~ MEANING:
the Law revealed our need for a SAVIOR.
Whenever we talk about GRACE versus “the Law” It’s always a
much longer post than I ever wanted it to be !
. . And believe me, I’m still not going into as much detail as I could!
This is not a fairy-tale, yet it is a bit of a scary story.
Because why on earth or heaven, would ANYONE place
the yoke & bondage of the “LAW” upon oneself, ‘willingly’ – for the
sake of retaining a practice that JESUS CHRIST freed you from?
From something that was NEVER INTENDED to save you?
Why would anyone reject FORGIVENESS and replace it with
certain ‘doom’ & destruction? And NO, you cannot do both.
embracing both is incorrect. The law was NEVER meant to save,
but you want to be saved by it by embracing it? Say, what??
On the other hand, JESUS (can) save you, which WAS the intention
of The New and Everlasting Covenant ~
~ but ‘you’ reject it in favor of something that
CANNOT and WILL NOT ever save you? Do you understand how
absurd that is!? — – — Here we go — – —
Once upon a time, a group of early church Christians were being led
astray by “JUDAIZERS.” Judaizers [are] one’s who conform to
the “religious laws” of the Jews. And this practice CONTINUES
to haunt the 21st century church to this very day.
It has for centuries.
The early Galatian saints were foolish to expect the Law to achieve
what it was never intended to do.
They had fallen for the false teaching of the Judaizers,
which promised to produce righteousness
and GOD’S blessings ‘IF’ they would submit to circumcision and
(here’s the main problem), the keeping of the Mosaic Law.
Many, MANY, in the Christian church today (still) insist on
perpetuating this fallacy. NOT ONE OF YOU WHO HAS
ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST is under mosaic law, unless you
WILLINGLY revert back to mosaic law practices. And many
STILL do.
{Antecedent}: a thing or event that existed before or logically
precedes another.
{Precedes}: come before (something) in time.
“GRACE” was always GOD’S Plan !
*JESUS preceded (both) Time, Creation, and Matter.
Which means HE not only preceded & presented universal law,
HE created it. HE also authored and proceeded mosaic law ~
and grace and truth. HE therefore has the ability to FULFILL any
one portion of ANYTHING he dictates as a rule or law.
John 1:17
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth
came by Jesus Christ.”
The Galatians had been saved and had received the HOLY SPIRIT,
who continued to work mightily in their midst,
on the basis of faith alone, apart from law-keeping.
But now, they had become bewitched by the Judaizers,
and had become willing to adopt law-keeping as the
operating principle of their spiritual lives.
This is where ‘they’ went wrong,
and this is where MANY 21st century Christians living today
are (still) perpetuating this ‘nonsense’.
And it is nonsense, because this is NOT what the GOSPEL that
CHRIST delivered teaches.
This very practice, puts the BONDAGE of the “law” back around
the necks of all who willingly and blindly follow this practice.
Let’s dig into this . . . . .
CHRIST came in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin,
HE then condemned sin in the flesh.
Romans 8:1-4
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.
3For 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:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
There are (4) points that we can conclude from this ~
GOD condemned sin in the flesh.
HE did this by sending his own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh and for sin.
The law was not able to do this.
The reason the law could not do this was because of our flesh.
1 –The Law Could not Justify Us Because We Were of Flesh.
2 –The Law Could not Justify or Sanctify Us.
3 –Why Is It that the Law Could not Sanctify Us?
4 –Trust JESUS, not Law-Keeping.
What is it that the law could not do? The answer is given twice in
Romans 8:1-4, once in verses 1-2 and once in verses 3-4.
Verse 1 says,
“There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
This is what we call justification – if we are in CHRIST JESUS– that is,
if we are united to JESUS by faith in HIM – our condemnation from GOD
(because of our sin) is taken away. GOD acquits us.
And then HE COUNTS US RIGHTEOUS. HE Justifies us.
HE does not look upon us any longer as guilty and condemned,
but as forgiven and righteous because of what JESUS did for us.
JESUS the CHRIST DID, IT, ALL !
The only thing “You” and “I” did in all of this, to become counted
as forgiven & righteous, was to ACCEPT (WHAT) JESUS DID.
That’s it !
The Judaizers argument for the law, is weaker than the flesh itself !
In the first nine verses of Galatians 3, Paul sought to correct this error
set forth by the “Judaizers”. In verses 2-5, Paul’s penetrating questions
forced the Galatians to acknowledge that it was by faith alone
that the Spirit of GOD had been given and that GOD continued to
work mightily among them.
+The Law Cannot Approve Men, but can only condemn them,
(Galatians 3:10-12).
+The Curse and the Cross,
(Galatians 3:13-14).
+The Principle of Priority,
(Galatians 3:15-18)
A Judaizer’s view of the Christian walk does not honor the Law of Moses;
it dishonors it in addition to setting aside the blessings of
the Abrahamic Covenant. If Paul is right in insisting that the Law can
only condemn men, (and he is), then those who elevate the Law as
the means of obtaining GOD’S blessings are guilty of perverting
the Law and setting aside its original purposes.
UNDERSTAND ~
Those who seek to live under the Law will only find frustration and guilt,
for the Law (if rightly understood) cannot and will not pronounce
a blessing on us, but only a curse.
Only through CHRIST can the curse of the Law be overcome,
and yet, by turning from CHRIST and turning to the Law,
we turn back to the curse of the Law, like a dog returns to its vomit.
2 Peter 2:19-22
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants
of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is
he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through
the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with
them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way
of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from
the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb,
The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was
washed to her wallowing in the mire.
SO – —–WHY is everyone in such a rush to retain the “law”?
“While “they” promise them liberty, “they” “themselves”
are the servants of corruption..”
Those people are modern day “Judaizers” —
denying CHRIST, denying CHRIST’S completed work.
People denied CHRIST (then) they still are.
Why can’t the law sanctify us?
Why can’t it make us holy and righteous and loving people?
There is so much to say about that, I think I would do a disservice
to the truth if I tried to pack it in here at the end of the message.
(But I’ll try !)
There is a very deceptive way in which the Judaizers solve this problem
of the curse of the Law: they redefine the Law, attempting to make it
possible to live up to its standards.
They do this by lowering its
standards or by providing clever loopholes.
It’s exactly what they do when they berate the GOSPEL, and claim
that “GRACE” is license or excuse to continue in ‘sin’.
No wonder Paul could claim to be blameless as to the righteousness
which is in the Law (Phillemon 3:5). That was not the Law as GOD
intended it, but the Law as the Judaizers redefined it.
This is the point of the Sermon on the Mount.
“You have heard it said” – refers to what the Judaizers
(the Pharisees and scribes) taught about the Law.
“But I say to you” is the way GOD intended for the Law to be
understood and practiced. We do not honor GOD’S Law by altering it,
any more than we honor a man’s portrait by penciling in a mustache
or modifying it in some other way.
“Legalism” practices (and produces) the very things it says it is
seeking to prevent ~ disregard for GOD’S law and unlawful conduct.
(“Politics” offers the same PHONY resolve). (I digress..)
We need to understand that legalism is rooted in man’s
rebellion and unbelief. And what IS REBELLION??
Rebellion is open resistance to lawful authority.
In this instance, the AUTHORITY OF CHRIST.
Matthew 28:18
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given
unto me in heaven and in earth.”
Why then, are people DENYING CHRIST JESUS’ AUTHORITY?
GOD’S GRACE is – Favorable influence of or from GOD;
divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart
and restraining from sin.
“My grace is sufficient for thee,” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
WHY THEN ARE “you” willingly returning back to ~
or willingly remaining, in BONDAGE?
John 8:36-39
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
This conflict between JESUS and the self-righteous arose immediately.
And for many, it remains to this day. Those attempting to live under
this constraint, do NOT understand the Scriptures — not because of
ignorance, but because of “spiritual blindness”.
2 Corinthians 3:14-16
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth
the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read,
the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord,
the vail shall be taken away.
IN REJECTING Grace & Truth from CHRIST
(and following the law), their minds remain Blinded.
This does not apply (only) to mosaic Jews,
but to those who ‘claim’ christianity (a Christ follower) but are trying
to embrace two separate worlds.
Many who [had] lived for so long under the Pharisees’ oppressive
system eagerly embraced the mercy of CHRIST and the freedom
HE offered (Mark 2:15). Some, however, saw this new demonstration
of grace as dangerous: what would keep a person from casting off
all moral restraint?
This is WHY Paul dealt with this issue in Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin,
that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin,
live any longer therein?
In (verses 1—2) Paul clarified what JESUS had taught:
the Law (shows us what GOD wants) – (holiness),
and “GRACE” (gives us the desire and power to be holy).
Rather than trust in the Law to save us, (which it cannot) ~
we trust in CHRIST. The law only (defines).
We are freed from the Law’s bondage by JESUS’
once-for-all sacrifice (Romans 7:6; 1 Peter 3:18).
The ONLY time a conflict arises between the law and Grace is ~
when someone misunderstands and misapplies it.
Conflict between “grace” and the “Law” arises when someone:
+misunderstands the purpose of the Law;
+ redefines grace as something other than “GOD’S benevolence on
the undeserving” (see Romans 11:6)
+tries to earn his/her own salvation or believes they are “supplementing”
CHRIST sacrifice
+follows the error of the Pharisees in tacking manmade rituals and
traditions onto his doctrine; or
+fails to focus on the “whole counsel of GOD” (Acts 20:27).
When the HOLY SPIRIT guides our search of Scripture, we can
“study to show ourselves approved unto GOD” (2 Timothy 2:15)
discovering the beauty of a grace that produces good works.
The purpose of the Law was, basically, to bring us to CHRIST,
(Galatians 3:24). Once we are saved, GOD desires to glorify
HIMSELF through our good works (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 2:10).
Therefore, “good works” follow salvation;
they do not, not will they EVER, precede it.
FOLLOW CHRIST ! (stop arguing) LEARN THE GOSPEL ~
S P R E A D the G O S P E L ! PERFORM THE GOOD WORK !
Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun
a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
GOD Bless ! !
ORDM, M.Cawthon.
