LIBERATING GRACE (11 OF 14)
by Stan Coffey
Scripture: GALATIANS 5:6-7
This content is part of a series.
Liberating Grace (11 of 14)
Series: Amazing Grace
Galatians 5:6-7
Today what I want to do is expand a little bit on the thought of the life of liberty because there may be some who would say well it sounds like when you preach on liberating grace that you are saying that it really doesn't matter what I do if I am a Christian because I am forgiven. So therefore it doesn't matter how I live. Or it sounds as though I have to live a perfect life, that if Jesus lives in me my life will be perfect. Well, I am not saying either one of those things. And I want you to see what Paul says about the three ways that people live the Christian life. And two of them do not work.
Galatians 5:6-7 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"
I. THE WAY OF LEGALISM
The first is the way of legalism. In Galatians 5:1 he says, "don't be tangled up again the yoke of bondage". Now Paul was talking about the life of legalism that is living a Christian life by a set of rules, by a set of laws and then basing your success in a Christian life on your performance, on how well you perform. Now if you choose to live the Christian life by trying to keep laws and rules and standards in your own power, the first thing it will do is it prevents your growth.
In verse 7 he says, "you were running well". And here Paul uses the imagery of the athletic contest, a track meet. And you know when you run in a track meet, you are given a lane in which to run. And you are supposed to stay in your lane and not get into the other fellow's lane. But he said, what has happened is you have gotten out of your lane. You have gotten off the track, you have gotten off on a detour because you were saved by grace and now you are trying to live the Christian life in your own effort, in your own strength. You are trying to run this race and you are c ...
Series: Amazing Grace
Galatians 5:6-7
Today what I want to do is expand a little bit on the thought of the life of liberty because there may be some who would say well it sounds like when you preach on liberating grace that you are saying that it really doesn't matter what I do if I am a Christian because I am forgiven. So therefore it doesn't matter how I live. Or it sounds as though I have to live a perfect life, that if Jesus lives in me my life will be perfect. Well, I am not saying either one of those things. And I want you to see what Paul says about the three ways that people live the Christian life. And two of them do not work.
Galatians 5:6-7 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"
I. THE WAY OF LEGALISM
The first is the way of legalism. In Galatians 5:1 he says, "don't be tangled up again the yoke of bondage". Now Paul was talking about the life of legalism that is living a Christian life by a set of rules, by a set of laws and then basing your success in a Christian life on your performance, on how well you perform. Now if you choose to live the Christian life by trying to keep laws and rules and standards in your own power, the first thing it will do is it prevents your growth.
In verse 7 he says, "you were running well". And here Paul uses the imagery of the athletic contest, a track meet. And you know when you run in a track meet, you are given a lane in which to run. And you are supposed to stay in your lane and not get into the other fellow's lane. But he said, what has happened is you have gotten out of your lane. You have gotten off the track, you have gotten off on a detour because you were saved by grace and now you are trying to live the Christian life in your own effort, in your own strength. You are trying to run this race and you are c ...
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