Law and Grace

Well, as we come to the Sabbath right after the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, I want to give a message which I think ties in with the Feast. What does the Bible teach about law and grace? You know, many people in the world, many churches, believe that grace does away with the Ten Commandments and that the Ten Commandments are no longer required of Christians to obey. Of course, if you were to start questioning them, I think they would go right down the line to say that we should observe everyone and have no other gods before the true god. We should have no graven images. We should not take God's name in vain.

We should not dishonor our parents. We should not kill. We should not commit adultery. We should not steal. We should not lie. We should not bear false witness. But that fourth one I left out, the Sabbath, remember the Sabbath day, they would have trouble with that one. Well, we have a booklet on the Ten Commandments and many articles that prove that Christians should observe God's laws and commandments, but true, many, many people believe that grace does away with God's law.

In fact, I had a booklet a number of years ago that had the title on the front cover, Dead to the Law. And guess what the front cover had? A picture of a cross and on the cross were nailed the Ten Commandments, two tables of stone, dead to the law. Many people think that the commandments of God had been nailed to the cross, but somehow the death of Christ did away with the laws and the commandments of God.

And so the law has done away. You just believe. That's all you have to do. Just believe on Christ and you shall be saved. They use scriptures like Romans 3 and verse 20. Let's turn to a few scriptures that they will use to try to support what they believe that you no longer need to worry about keeping the laws of God since the law has been done away.

It was a part of the old covenant, they believe. They think the Ten Commandments were given to the Israelites as a part of the old covenant. And all that has been done away. Well, in Romans 3 and verse 20, a verse that is that they use to support that idea, we read Romans 3 and verse 20, therefore by the deeds of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. So they use especially the first part of this scripture, we cannot be justified by the deeds of the law. And of course, when we understand that statement, it's exactly, it means exactly what it says, and we'll come back to that a little later to understand it.

Also, they use Romans chapter 4 and verses 14, 14 and 15. Romans chapter 4 and verse 14, if those who are of the law, see those who keep the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath. Though many times not even quote the last part of that verse, the law of God brings forth wrath. So therefore, it's not necessary to keep this old commandment, the old Ten Commandments that God gave Israel. They'll also sometimes turn to some verses in Galatians like Galatians 2.

Let's turn to the book of Galatians and read chapter 2 and verse 16. Galatians chapter 2 and verse 16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. And they believe that's all that is required, faith in Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law.

For by works of the law, no flesh shall be justified. So these are just a few of the verses that are commonly used, and they might even go on to read in chapter 3 that actually indicating that Christ has redeemed us, as it says in chapter 3 and verse 13, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. So this is a very powerful verse to them in trying to show that God's commandments are done away.

And now we simply live by believing in Christ, and grace then means that we are not under the requirement to keep the laws of God. Now let me show you a verse or two that they do not use. Turn back to Romans, Romans chapter 2 and verse 13.

There are many, many verses in the Bible that they do not use. Here's one, Romans 2 and verse 13.

Not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified.

Well, you know, that verse seems to say something quite different, doesn't it? It seems to indicate that there's more than just hearing God's law and God's Word in order to be just. Not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified. How do you fit that in with the other scriptures? Well, they do fit together perfectly, as we'll see. Romans chapter 3 and verse 31 are another verse that is not referred to in articles of those who are trying to show God's law is done away. Romans chapter 3 and verse 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? Do we make void the law? Is it done away? Certainly not. On the contrary, we establish the law. In fact, what Paul is talking about just shows how powerful the law is, as we'll see later on in the sermon. So these are just a few of the verses that are not used in trying to show that God's law is done away. Other verses not used, and we'll read some of them later on. The law of God is holy and just and good. And Jesus said, if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. And in the book of Revelation, we read that the church is a commandment, keeping people. So these verses do not contradict themselves. We know that. Jesus said, John 10 and verse 35, that scripture cannot be broken. So the Bible does not contradict itself.

Jesus also said in John 17 and verse 17, thy word is truth. So we just have to properly understand God's word. And it's not that difficult, but it does take some rightly dividing the word of truth, as one verse says. Yes, we must we must rightly understand, we must put all the verses down and let them interpret themselves and rightly understand and discern what is being said. You know, one of the big keys in Bible study, and one of the big keys in understanding the Bible, is context. You know what context is? It means to read the verses before and after.

It might mean reading the whole chapter, and maybe a chapter before and after. It might mean reading the whole book. Before this sermon is over, I'll give you an example where really you need to understand the whole book in order to understand some verses that people misunderstand. It's the book of Galatians. We're going to later on look at the book of Galatians, and you have to read the entire book to see the context of those verses that people many times misunderstand. Yes, we need to rightly divide God's word and let it interpret itself. So let's understand this afternoon the teaching, the biblical teaching of law and grace. You will notice that in the Church of God, we teach law and grace, whereas many people in the world think it's one or the other, law or grace. But that is not a biblical understanding, the right biblical understanding. It's law and grace. The word law in the Greek is nomos, N-O-M-O-S. It means a law. It means a regulation. It means a working principle, just like the law of gravity. It's a law or a principle that works, and by which we are to live. Grace, the word grace in the Greek, is from Charis, C-H-A-R-I-S. Charis means grace. It means favor. It means benefit. Let me read from the expositors. No, this is from Vine's complete expository dictionary on grace. On the part of the bestower, the friendly disposition from which the kindly act proceeds. And you know, we know that God, as far as His love for us, it certainly is a friendly gesture, a friendly disposition toward mankind from which the kindly act proceeds. Graciousness, loving kindness, good will, especially with reference to the divine favor or grace. In this respect, there is stress on its freeness. Doesn't you can't buy it. It's freeness and it's universality. It's spontaneous character, as in the case of God's preventive mercy and the pleasure or joy He designs for the recipient. Thus, it is set in contrast with debt. So this is something that God delights in. It's just a part of His love, it's a part of His mercy, it's a part of what He is like as God. On the part of the recipient, and we are the recipient of God's grace, then there is a sense of gratitude and giving thanks.

And so let's, today in understanding law and grace, answer 10 basic questions on law and grace. I think by the time we answer these questions biblically, that we will understand the biblical teaching on this doctrine. First of all, number one, what is the purpose of the law?

What does the law do? What is the purpose of the law, and what does it do?

You know, the purpose of law, whether man's law or God's law, is to point out what is right and wrong. There are laws on the highway that we see a sign posted out in country driving 55 miles per hour, that's the speed limit. And then we see laws maybe around a curve up ahead, slowing us down to 35 miles an hour. So the speed laws, we see a stop sign. All those regulate conduct out on the highway. The law, whether man's law or God's law, simply points out what is right and what is wrong. If we go 70 miles an hour in the 55 mile an hour zone, that's breaking the law. That's wrong, and it's dangerous. So man's law and God's law are designed to point out what is right and what is wrong. Let's notice in Romans chapter 3 and verse 20. Romans chapter 3 and verse 20, we read the first part of this verse earlier. Romans 3 and verse 20, therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight. For by the law is the knowledge of sin. You see, the knowledge of what is wrong and what is right.

The law defines, points out, what is right and what is wrong. Notice also in Romans chapter 7, the same thing. Romans chapter 7 and in verse 7, what shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not. On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness except the law had said, you shall not covet. So God's law identifies the right conduct and the wrong conduct. It points out what is right and what is wrong. We know that what is wrong is sin and that sin is the breaking of the law, the transgression of God's law. 1 John 3 and verse 4.

Some verses in James chapter 1 says that the law is like a mirror, God's word. The laws of God are like a mirror. It helps us to see then whether or not we're living within God's law or not. But then what is right or what is wrong. So God's law simply points out what is right and wrong.

Now number two, what happens when we obey and keep God's laws? Well, simple answer is that blessings happen. There are two whole chapters devoted to this. Keep my laws and you will be blessed. Deuteronomy 28 about the first 15 verses and then in Leviticus chapter 26 also. If we keep and obey the laws of God then good things happen. You know, it's just like you driving down the highway and out in the country and you've just passed a sign that says 55 miles an hour and you're traveling safely along it say about 55 miles an hour and you see a policeman on the side and you nod to him and he nods back at you. He's got nothing against you. You know that you've done no wrong and so you're blessed in being able to continue on your journey and you'll arrive there safely in due time. So that's what happens when we obey and keep the laws of God. Good things happen just like in man's laws. Good things happen if we obey the laws of the land, the speed laws say, but if we break those laws then we know that there's a penalty. But as long as we're obedient there's no penalty. The policeman can't pull you over and say, well you were going 55 miles an hour in this 55 mile an hour speed zone. He has nothing against you. You've broken no law.

So there's no penalty. There's no payment or anything that he can exact upon you.

Instead, he can only wish you to continue on your journey and to arrive safely. And so there's peace and life and good things when we keep and obey God's laws. Later we'll see a read the verse where Jesus said, if you will enter into life keep the commandments. So that good thing will ultimately happen. Eternal life will be given to us. And we'll read the verse in Revelation 22 also that we'll have access to the tree of life. So what happens when we obey and keep God's laws? Blessings happen. Good things happen. All right, question number three.

What happens when we break the laws of God? What happens when we break the laws of God? Well, let's go back to man's laws. When you're on the highway and the speed limit is 55 and you're zooming along at 70, you are breaking the law. And you're subject to bad things happening.

Policeman is out there and he sees you. He's likely to pull you over and he should and give you a ticket and say, well, you know, you have broken the traffic laws. You have a payment you have to make. And so bad things happen when we break man's laws and bad things happen when we break God's laws. We come under the law. If we went out and held up a grocery store and robbed a bank, came back home with lots of money, we would be subject then to the penalty that is exact if we're doing such a violation of the law. And the policeman then, once it is discovered what we did, would come knocking on the door and he would say, you're under arrest. You are under the law. You know, that's what it means to be under the law. To be under the penalty of having broken the law.

You're under the law and you will have to be put in prison. You'll have to be tried and likely spend some time in prison. When the case of a traffic ticket, you will have to make a payment in order to continue driving on the highway. So what happens when we break the laws of God? We are separated from God. Isaiah 59, 1 and 2 brings out that we are separated from God when we sin. Your sins have separated between you and your God, it says. So the breaking of the law of God separates us from God. And look at Romans chapter 4 and verse 15. What is the penalty of breaking the laws of God? Wrath. And we'll see where that wrath will be after this verse. Exactly what that wrath is. Romans chapter 4 and verse 15. For the law brings about wrath. And what he's talking about is the breaking of the law. When we go contrary to the law, he says, for where there is no law, there's no transgression. You know, there would not even be sin if there were no law. So just the fact that sin does exist is proof within itself that there is law in force.

But breaking the law brings wrath. What kind of wrath? Look at Romans 6 and verse 23.

Romans 6 and verse 23. For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God, by contrast, by contrast is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. So the wages of sin is death. It's a wrathful death, in fact, in the lake of fire. What happens when we break the laws of God?

Death happens. Sin brings about death, a wrathful death in the lake of fire. Number four. But what if you feel sorry and you may want to make amends? Can the law or keeping the law justify your guilt?

It's a very important question. Number four. If you want to make amends, can the law or keeping the law justify your guilt? What do you think? Well, what if you're pulled over by the policeman? You've been going 70 miles an hour out in the country and it's 55 miles an hour of the law.

And he pulls you over and you roll down your window and he tells you what you've done. And you say, well, I'm very sorry about that. From now on, I'm going to keep the law. I'm not going to go this fast ever again. Does that justify what you just did? You went 70 miles an hour. You may have jeopardized other traffic. You may have jeopardized anyone on the side of the road.

So are you going to be... can you justify yourself by now beginning to keep the law in the future? Or is there some something you can do? Well, no. Your guilt can only be satisfied with a payment of some type. In this case, it would be money. And so you would have to pay a fine. So the law, when we break it, requires a payment. And just feeling sorry about something or now starting to maybe keep the law does not justify the violation. And that's true of God's law. Even if we were to determine that we would try to keep his law and could do it, what about the past guilt? That would not justify the past guilt. There's a payment that needs to be made for the past guilt. Let's go to Romans chapter 3 and verse 19. Romans chapter 3 and verse 19. We know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, to those people who are not living within the law and actually come under its penalty, that every mouth may be stopped. And certainly all of us, because we have sinned, our mouth is stopped. That every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, no flesh shall be justified in his sight. You know, we cannot do some kind of sacrifices of animals. We can't pay money.

That doesn't satisfy the law. The only thing that will satisfy the law is our death, because the wages of sin is death. So, if we want to make amends for breaking the law, then keeping the law cannot do it. It cannot be justified by beginning to now keep the law or something that we do. Keeping the law does not pay the penalty for past guilt. So, where does that leave us? That leaves us with the death penalty over our heads, even if we want to make amends.

Well, number five, let's get to this one now. Is there a way to make amends? That is a way to be justified, a way to be forgiven, a way to be made right with God and past guilt, forgiven.

And we know that there is, and it goes on down to describe that right here in this chapter, beginning in verse 21. We know it's through the sacrifice that has been provided for us. Verse 21, but now the righteousness of God is talking about God's great love and God's great mercy in providing a way that we can be forgiven. The righteousness of God, apart from the law, no, it's not a part of keeping the law. It's just provided for us by the sacrifice of Christ entirely. The righteousness of God, apart from the law, is revealed, being witnessed in the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness, the goodness, the love of God, the mercy of God, which is through faith in Jesus Christ. And that sacrifice to all and on all who believe, and believe on that sacrifice, there's no difference. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by His grace, the margin says, without any cost, justified without any cost through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. So here's the payment that has been provided by God, the Passover Lamb. In verse 25, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood through faith to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance, God had passed over the sins that were previously committed. So yes, God has provided a way that we can be forgiven, but it's freely given to us. There's nothing that we can do to ever earn it. No amount of obedience, no amount of physical works, circumcision can't do it, animal sacrifices cannot do it, nothing we can do can do it. It's freely given to us. Verse 27, where is boasting then? Paul wants to get to this important point.

It is excluded. We can't then boast of doing something that earns our salvation, that earns our forgiveness. It's excluded, boasting, by what law? Of works? No, by the law of faith.

Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith, apart from the deeds of the law.

Justified freely by the sacrifice that is faith in the sacrifice of Christ, not by the things that we might do. But all of this doesn't do away with God's law. No, it just shows in verse 31, do we then make void the law through faith? Through faith in the sacrifice of Christ? Certainly not. On the contrary, we establish the law. We show how powerful the law is. The law is so powerful that it requires our death, or it requires the death of Christ. That's how we establish the law. That's how we show how powerful the law is. When we break it, it requires our life, or it requires turning to the sacrifice of our creator, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. So yes, there's a way to be justified, a way that God has set forth for that to be accomplished. It's the grace of God. That's what we're talking about. That is grace. That is God's favor. That's God's love toward mankind. But there's no way we can buy it. There's nothing we can do of ourselves to earn it. Number six, how can we get this grace? It's very simple. We repent. We have a repentant attitude. And then we just acknowledge our sins and ask God to forgive us to apply the blood of Christ. Why, we read in Romans 3.24 that we're justified freely. We read in Romans 6.23 that salvation is a free gift. Let's also read in 1 John, chapter 1, beginning in verse 7. 1 John, chapter 1 and verse 7. Here is how we can obtain this grace of God, this favor that God has for us, and not have to pay the penalty ourselves for breaking God's law. 1 John, chapter 1, and verse 7. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. But we do have to face the fact that we have committed these sins. Verse 8, if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.

And the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, that we do sin, then He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. In verse 1 of the next chapter, we have an advocate when we do sin. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not ours only, but also for the whole world.

How do we obtain this mercy and grace and favor once we become guilty of breaking, realize how guilty we are? Well, it's just simply on our knees asking God to use the blood of Christ to clean us up and to forgive us and justify us. Well, number seven, how or now that you are under grace, let's say God does apply the blood of Christ and our sins are blotted out, now that we're under grace and not under the law, that is the penalty of breaking the law, we're no longer staying guilty of it. Is the law done away? Do you no longer need to keep the law? Well, already we read that we established the law, right, in Romans 3 and verse 31. Let's go to Romans chapter 6. No, that doesn't make any sense at all. What if a policeman decided not to give you a ticket? I've had that happen to me. I was pulled over in one town going about 45 in a 35 mile an hour zone and the policeman said, are you in a hurry? Well, I said, well, I guess I am and I'd noticed that I was going faster, I was getting on out to the edge of town and he just kind of gave me a warning. He said, well, kind of, you know, be careful. And this is a 35 mile an hour zone and you were going 45. Well, you know, that was that was mercy, merciful, and that was being under grace under his favor.

And it feels kind of good, doesn't it, to have that happen instead of having a ticket written out for you? Maybe many of us have experienced such a thing happening. But now that we're under grace, that didn't mean I could get out now. I'm under grace and I could go on and speed through that area. I could then get out on the 55 mile an hour stretch and, you know, break the law. No, being under grace doesn't mean that we no longer obey the law. Not at all. In fact, we should obey the law, strive to obey the law even more. Be more careful. Romans 6 in verse 1, verse 2, verse 1, He's been showing in the previous chapter and chapters about the grace of God. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not. How shall we, who died to sin, live any longer in it? Though we try all the more to obey God's laws. Verse 14 says that sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law. That is, under its penalty. That's been removed. That guilt has been taken away, but under grace. Verse 15, what then shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Certainly not. So, you know, that would not make any sense at all on the human level to be forgiven and have the guilt taken care of, not even, maybe not even imputed. You know, when a policeman doesn't write you a ticket, he's just saying, well, I'm not going to impute this to you. I'm going to be merciful and just give you a warning. So, God, toward us then, also forgives and removes that guilt, and we're under grace. And all the more than we should strive to keep the laws of God and not to incur further guilt. So, it would not make any sense at all to think that we can break God's law simply because we're under grace. Number eight, and some people feel this is the way it happened. Did Jesus keep the law for us in our stead? Some people believe that. Jesus was under the old covenant. He kept the law perfectly in our stead, so we don't have to keep it now. Does that make any sense? Can anybody keep the traffic laws for you, and therefore you don't have to keep them? Just go out there and do anything you want to do? That doesn't make any sense at all. No, Jesus simply set an example that we should follow, and so he did not keep God's law in our stead. That does not coincide at all with the teachings of the Scriptures. In fact, in Romans chapter 8 and verse 4 indicates that through God's Spirit, after we are freed of our guilt, and we are living under grace, that in Romans 8 and verse 4, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, so the righteous requirement of the law. There's a requirement there that will certainly certainly lead us to the holiness and the righteousness of God. And that is what is required. That through God's Spirit, we have His laws written upon our hearts and minds. Number nine, the last two questions. Number nine, could you ever have eternal life without keeping God's law?

And the answer to that is simply no. Let's read a few verses that would prove that. Matthew chapter 19 and verse 17. Matthew chapter 19 and verse 17, Jesus was asked, Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? So He said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good but one that is God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. Those are red letters in your Bible, words of Jesus Christ. That is, if you have the words of Christ in red, they are. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. Some people argue with that a little bit, though. They say, well, yeah, you look and see which commandments he mentioned in verse 17. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery, not steal or bear false witness. Honor your father and mother and love your neighbor as yourself. They say, you see, the Sabbath is not mentioned. That's right. The Sabbath is not mentioned. How do you argue with that? Well, neither is the first commandment. No other gods before the true God.

Nothing about graven images. Nothing about taking God's name in vain. So Jesus simply didn't address the first four commandments that show us how to love God. He simply was talking more about loving your neighbor, that part of God's law. And so, you know, there's no argument there. If anybody says, well, the Sabbath is not mentioned, because so many people believe the Sabbath has done away. There's no argument for them on that. So, no, we could never have eternal life unless we keep the commandments. Let's go to Revelation 22 and verse 14, right at the end of the Bible. There is mention, then, that, no, we must keep God's commandments if we want to have access to the tree of life. Revelation 22 and verse 14, blessed are those who do His commandments. Oh, we are to keep His commandments. We will be blessed if we do that. They may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. So, again, if we would enter into life, let us keep the commandments. God's laws. It is the way to life. So, no, we could never have eternal life without keeping God's laws, being obedient to them, because in the end God's laws must be written upon our hearts and minds. What about the question number 10, the last one? Could you ever have eternal life without grace? The answer is simply no.

We could never have eternal life without the grace of God. His mercy, His love, His forgiveness. We could never have salvation. Let's go to Acts 4 and verse 12. Unless we come to the sacrifice that our Father has provided, the Passover land, we could never be acquitted of our guilt.

We could never be forgiven. We'd have to make the payment ourselves for our sins. In Acts 4 and in verse 12, there is nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

There is no way to be forgiven. There is no way to have our sins. There is nothing we can do. There is no amount of obedience on our part once we come to see that we want to do it right. But there is no amount of obedience. There are no physical works or sacrifices or payment of money. There is nothing we could ever do that would forgive our guilty past.

So, no, we could never have eternal life without the grace of God.

So, the Scriptures clearly teach law and grace, not, as many people believe, law or grace.

The Bible teaches both. In fact, as we have shown, you could not have grace or the need for grace without the law. Where there is no law, there is no transgression. Where there is no transgression, there is no need for grace. There is no need for mercy and forgiveness because there is no guilt.

I want us now to spend the last 10 or 15 minutes in the book of Galatians. The book of Galatians is used, perhaps more than any other book, to try to show that being under grace means that we are not under the requirement to keep the laws of God. Let's begin our study of the book of Galatians by turning to 2 Peter, oddly enough. 2 Peter 3 and verse 16.

2 Peter 3 and verse 16. This is important because it shows something about the book of Galatians that we need to keep in mind. 2 Peter 3 and verse 16. It's talking about the Apostle Paul in verse 15. Our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you. Verse 16 is also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand. Some of those things are found in the book of Galatians. Some things hard to understand. Those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. God's Word can be twisted. It's not just Paul's writings, but other Scriptures also are twisted as well. Some need to keep in mind that some things in Paul's letters can be hard to understand. Peter admitted to that. It can be twisted if we are not careful. We don't want to twist God's Word. That's what many people in the world do. Now let's also read, before turning to Galatians, one other passage of Scripture in Acts, chapter 15. There was a problem in the church at large at that time. There was a transition being made. You can understand in some ways why there was this problem. The Jews had been faithful in circumcision. They felt that God commanded Abraham to be circumcised. He gave it to ancient Israel. They were required to be circumcised. They could not take of the Passover any stranger that came in. If he wanted to take of the Passover, he needed to be circumcised first. Circumcision was a big thing in the Old Testament, under the Old Covenant. You can understand in a way why some Jews, when they started understanding things about the church, they said, well, everybody should be circumcised. It always had been done. We don't have that same setting today that they had, but that's where they were. They looked back and said, well, this has always been done since Father Abraham was commanded to do it.

And then it's always been done. So anybody coming into the church ought to be circumcised. We're going to see that's the big problem in Galatia. Well, in Acts chapter 15 and verse 1, they had this big conference, as we know, to decide about circumcision. I want to read this because it helps us to understand the book of Galatians. Acts chapter 15 and verse 1, certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren.

Well, there was no small dispute about that. Verse 2. So they decided to go to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders. They went to their home office of that day and time. And they went on their way. And verse 4, when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and elders and reported the things God had done with them.

But verse 5, there was a problem. Some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, these were people that were believing the message taught by the apostles. Some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, it is necessary to circumcise them and command them to keep the law of Moses. They were going to command also some of these other, I'm not sure all the other things, but I don't think they were going to require the Gentiles to begin sacrificing animals or doing everything that was commanded of Old Testament Israel. Paul indicates that in Galatians they were not doing all of the law themselves. But they thought circumcision had to be done. Well, with this in mind, then, that some things are hard to be understood and could be twisted, and that there was a big problem with circumcision at that time. Let's go to Galatians and understand these verses that are many times misunderstood concerning law and grace. Galatians. Let's begin in chapter 1 and verse 6. I think this is a good example of context. It's a good example of even reading the entire book to see what it is saying, what it's addressing, and it helps us then to understand and not to misuse Scripture. Galatians chapter 1 and verse 6, I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ. Brother, can you imagine what a difference it is just getting on your knees and looking to the sacrifice of Christ versus the requirement to be circumcised and do certain other works of the law? Maybe even animal sacrifices? I don't know if that was necessarily something that the Jews were stressing, but they were stressing circumcision, as we'll see in this book, instead of the grace of Christ. It's a poem marveled that they were doing that. They were turning and listening and thinking that you had to do some of those physical works like circumcision. We're going to see that that's what He's leading to word here. Verse 7, which is not another gospel, there's only one, but there are some, notice, some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you, then what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, we now say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. So, God's ministry and the Apostle Paul have been chosen by God to be the minister to the Gentiles, to the uncircumcision. In fact, he uses much of the rest of this chapter to show, hey, God knocked me down, chose me, and gave me training to go to the uncircumcision. You can read the rest of this chapter and how he then had some interaction with those apostles at Jerusalem in the beginning. But then let's skip on to chapter 2 now, verse 1.

Because of false brethren secretly brought in who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus. It's a great liberty in not having to do the physical works of the law, including circumcision. You know, today, just think, we'd have a lot of people that would have to go through a surgery. And it's a sore type operation that would have to be done. But then again, it would apply only to men, wouldn't it? It wouldn't even apply to ladies, but just the men. It would be this requirement that they go through this surgery of circumcision.

So there is a, you know, the liberty that is in Christ certainly does not require that painful surgery on someone that has never been circumcised. That really is what Paul is getting at here, the liberty we have through the sacrifice of Christ. But there were these false brethren who had come in and that they might bring us into bondage.

To whom we did not yield submission, even for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might continue in youth. And he goes on down to say in verse 7, on the contrary, when they saw the Gospel, for the uncircumcised had been committed to me. As the Gospel of the circumcised was to Peter, again he mentions how the uncircumcised had become his responsibility to preach the Gospel to them. And he says in verse 8, he who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles. And so, the apostles went to the Israelites, primarily the circumcision, and the apostle Paul went to the uncircumcision, the Gentiles. Let's skip on down to verse 14. We cannot read all of this, but we do want to get the gist of this book, because it has so much that is misused in regard to law and grace. Verse 14, when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter before them all, If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of the Gentiles, and not as the Jews, if that shows that Peter wasn't doing all the things, the physical works of the law that the Jews felt had to be done, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law, and he's getting more into the physical works that some of the Jews felt had to be done, and especially circumcision, man is not justified by the works of the law, by things he does, or by faith, but by faith in Jesus Christ, in that sacrifice of Christ. That's how we're justified. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law, or these physical things like circumcision. For by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified. And we'll skip on down through some of this. Verse 20, I've been crucified with Christ, but it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me. And he says in verse 21, I do not set aside the grace of God, that pardon, that forgiveness that is made possible through the sacrifice of Christ. If righteousness came through the law, through something we do, if that forgiveness, that mercy we need came through something that we do, then Christ died in vain. Christ did not have to die. We could do it for ourselves. We can make our own payment. What he's bringing out in this book is that anything that we do cannot make the payment for our sins.

So you can read in chapter 3, verse 1, O foolish Galatians, Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified. They had taught how we are the Gentiles, we're forgiven by the sacrifice of Christ. Some of the Jews were coming in and saying, no, you can't be saved unless you're circumcised. That's the problem here. In verse 2, this only I want to learn from you.

Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, going out and doing certain things, or was it by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish, having begun in the spirit? Are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Something physical, like circumcision? Have you suffered so many things in vain, if indeed it is in vain? Therefore, he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? No. You see, that's how we today, it's the hearing of faith. It's not something that we go out and do, by which we are forgiven.

There are things that we do. We do begin to keep God's laws. We've already proved that, but we don't do certain anything that somehow earns us forgiveness or salvation. We know it's a free gift. But if we begin to think that we can earn our salvation, earn our forgiveness by something we do, that's a problem. Paul addresses that a lot here in chapter 3 and in chapter 4. He even brings out in verse 10, As many as are under the works of the law are under the curse.

And if we're trying to save ourselves and earn our own salvation, we're still under the curse of God's law, of having broken it. We're not forgiven. Verse 11, But that no one is justified by the law, in the sight of God is evident. We can only be justified by the blood of Christ. No amount of works or things we do could ever justify past guilt. Verse 13, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.

Many people think that says the law is a curse. No. The curse of the law is when we break it, there's a penalty and the penalty is death. But Christ has redeemed us. He's made the payment for us, for the death penalty, having become a curse for us. So he's paid that death penalty. And Paul continues in chapter 3 and chapter 4 with different ways of explaining that we are freely forgiven of the sacrifice that Christ has made.

But for the sake of time, let's skip on over to chapter 5. This makes it very clear what he's getting at in this book. Chapter 5 and verse 1, Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free. That is the free forgiveness of our sins and not by something that we must do, like circumcision.

And do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Verse 2, Indeed I Paul say to you that if you become circumcised, that's how you think you are saved and the way you're forgiven, then Christ shall profit you nothing. You don't even need the sacrifice of Christ. I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised, that he's a debtor to keep the whole law. He has to go ahead and do it all. And some of those Jews who insisted upon circumcision were not doing all of the physical things in the law.

You have become estranged from Christ. You've pushed Christ aside. You who attempt to be justified by the law. You have fallen from grace. The free gift that God has made available for us to be forgiven and justified. The death of Christ. And we're trying to earn that justification by what they were doing. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but faith working through love. That's what really matters. It's not an operation or having had an operation in the flesh or not having had that operation, but faith that works in us through love. You ran well. You were doing well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind, but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off.

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty. Only do not use liberty as an opportunity to the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another. And he goes on to talk about the works of the flesh, and walking in the spirit, and the fruits of the spirit.

He has a few other instructions in chapter 6, but would you be surprised if he brought up circumcision one more time? You should not be. He makes one final hit at the problem in Galatia. Let's go to chapter 6 in verse 11, just before the end of the book here. See what large letters I've written to you with my own hand. As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these try to compel you to be circumcised. That's what the people, some were trying to do. And some of the Galatians were falling for it. They tried to compel you to be circumcised only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised, those who want to insist upon being circumcised, not even those who keep all of the law. But they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. Somehow they get a real glory out of knowing that that operation, that surgery, is done of circumcision. They desire to have you circumcised in the flesh that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We can glory in the grace of God, in the mercy that God makes available to us, by which our guilt is removed. So we can glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one trouble me, for I bury in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus, brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, your spirit. He ends with that teaching of the grace of God. But there were people trying to earn their own salvation. They were requiring physical works of the law. And it seems especially circumcision in order to be saved. Well, today we have then, I hope we have helped to explain some of the difficult verses and their setting in the book of Galatians. Just remember, the issue of circumcision was very much in Paul's mind and those people that tried to insist upon circumcision instead of looking to Jesus Christ as a means of forgiveness and justification. Today we've seen that the Scriptures clearly teach both law and grace. Both are essential for our salvation. So, let's thank God for His law. It is holy. It is righteous. It is good. Blessings result when we keep the laws of God. And God's laws are to be written upon our hearts and minds by God's Spirit. Lesson number two, let's thank God for His grace. His grace is His favor. It says mercy.

Because He wants us to be in His family and He's provided the way by which we can be forgiven of our sins. We all do sin and we need the grace of God. We could never be in God's kingdom without His grace. Let's thank God for law and grace.