The
Threat of the Gift of Grace
Galatians
3:1-3 (NLT)
Oh, foolish Galatians! What magician has
cast an evil spell on you? For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ's
death as clearly as though I had shown you a signboard with a picture of Christ
dying on the cross. [2] Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the
Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon
you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. [3] Have you
lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are
you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
Hebrews
6:1 (NASB)
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching
about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of
repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
1.
Sin is not simply doing bad things; it is putting good things in the place
of God
1
Cor. 15:9-10 (NIV)
For I am the least of the apostles and do
not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not
without effect…yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
2. Grace
frees us but God’s unconditional grace demands that we give up control
of our lives.
Luke
18:18-23 (NLT)
Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what
should I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why
do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the
commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not
steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’” The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these
commandments since I was young.” When
Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done.
Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the man heard this he became very
sad, for he was very rich.
Luke 19:7-10 (NLT)
But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a
notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and
said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated
people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus
responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown
himself to be a true son of Abraham. For
the Son of Man[a] came to
seek and save those who are lost.”
The law condemns the self-righteous but grace
will transform the sinner
3. God
is after our inward heart transformation – let the grace of God open our
hearts to Him