Amazing Grace (Part 1) | Galatians 4:21

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? Gal 4:21

 

In an age where the reach of man’s feats are boundless, there remains one thing that is impossible with man – salvation. Salvation can never be earned by man’s effort, and Jesus did not save those who by man’s moral measure was worthy. (Jer 13:23, Matt 11:28) The doctrine of grace sets Christianity apart from every false religion. Grace is God’s unmerited favor- as sinners, we are debtors to God, unable to pay. Though there is nothing good of us that God would love us, He paid this debt for us through Christ Jesus. (Rom 4:4-8) Grace is not an idea- grace is a person, a power fully presented in Jesus. Apostle Paul understood the grace of God in his own life, and as we continue in his letter to the Galatians, we examine the reasons why God’s grace is so necessary for man’s salvation. (1 Cor 15:10)

Everyone is dead. God’s perfect law judges us rightly. By practicing unbelief, we are under God’s condemnation. (Acts 2:36, Rev 20:12-13) Under the power of the world, sin nature, and Satan, we are deceived and dead in our sin. We are under the wrath of a holy and just God. (Ps 51:5, Gal 5:19-21) The agonizing reality of God’s wrath was on complete display in Jesus’ crucifixion. As Jesus suffered and died in our place, God’s wrath was poured out on His perfect and holy Son. Jesus came to us, full of grace and truth, ready to lavish His grace on anyone who repents and trusts in Him. (Jn 3:17-18, 1:14)

Without God’s grace, everyone would think they are good. God’s grace is based on our total depravity. We are dead, with no desire to seek Him. Even after we are saved, in our sin nature we constantly desire to go back to our old ways. (Ecc 7:20) This is every man’s condition. Arminianism is wrong- man can not choose God. We have no desire to be saved, and we have no merit in our nature to be saved. Salvation is by God’s grace alone. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, and it only by grace that we can even understand and accept this blessed truth. Without grace, we are hopeless. (Rom 3:11, Lk 19:10)

Without God’s grace, we would not have the assurance of salvation. Even though we are saved, we sin, but it is God who continually sustains us by His grace. God has promised us eternal life in Christ Jesus. His steadfast love for us never changes. (Jn 6:39)

Although we know it is by grace alone that we are saved, we often forget and limit God’s grace in our lives. This is the same issue that Paul addresses to the Galatians. The Galatians were confused with Scripture, and they lost their conviction of God’s truth. They placed their emotions, self convictions, and circumstances above God’s Word, and were no longer able to understand and experience God’s grace. Grace comes through the Word of God. We must know Scripture faithfully, putting it into practice by following Christ and His teaching. (Matt 8:1-2) We must know Christ accurately, studying Scripture diligently to gain understanding, and handling the text literally within its context. We can not compromise on the teachings of the Bible, and we must not use it for our own personal agenda and gain. Finally, we must see the Bible prayerfully. Scripture is the living word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. We need to pray for understanding and conviction, so that we do not become confused with Scripture and lose sight of grace.

God’s grace is truly amazing. Salvation is a gift of God, given to those whom He chose before the foundation of the world. God has called us by His grace, in His grace we are sustained, and by His grace, He will bring us home. Amazing grace!