Grace Wins
Read This Week: Galatians 2
For through the law, I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! – Galatians 2:19-21 NIV
In 1966, a man by the name of Sonny Curtis wrote a song entitled I Fought the Law in his living room in West Texas. Curtis had never been in trouble with authorities nor had he ever been to jail. He just had an idea for a catchy tune and wrote it down. The song would eventually become world-famous and recorded by multiple legendary artists like Hank Williams Jr. and The Clash.
One of the lines in the song says, “I guess my race is run. I fought the law, and the law won.” In the first century, the Apostle Paul had his mind on running the race and the law too. But he was less interested in fighting the law as he was in making sure people knew the fulfillment of it. He wanted the church of Galatia and the world to know that when it comes to their salvation and winning the race of life, keeping the law wasn’t necessary anymore in light of God’s grace.
Paul is passionate and serious about this topic in Galatians 2. He makes it clear that keeping the Mosaic Law was good for what it was intended, but faith in Christ by his grace is all that is required now to have a relationship with God. This passage tells us that we don’t have to go back to the law anymore. We don’t have to do things or keep rules to be saved or acceptable to the Lord. Returning to the checkboxes of religion for salvation is unnecessary and denies the grace that God extended to us through Jesus.
Verse 20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This means our lives are completely interconnected with Christ through faith in His finished work on the cross. We have a new life because we believe Jesus died for us and rose again, not because we’re good at following religious orders. We don’t need the law to fulfill God’s requirements. Jesus did that for us.
The law of religion creates a space between us and God. And every time we sin or do something wrong, it is easy to see just how far we are from Him and His standard. But faith in Jesus bridges the gap that we could never cross on our own. It not only allows us complete access to God but supplies a real, lasting relationship with Him.
A new life of intimacy with God is what only grace can give. It moves us from the pressure of following and keeping the law to the peace and joy of a loving relationship. That’s what grace does for us. Grace fought the law and won. Grace wins.
So happy to enjoy God’s grace and to pay it forward to others. It’s so much easier than the ways of the world. Set free in Christ, is set free in deed.
I agree wholeheartedly, Ken. The reception and enjoyment of God’s grace are undeniably tied to the freedom we have and experience in Christ. I know in my own life when I began to understand and accept God’s grace, I began to know and feel the freedom that salvation provided for me.
To know why we are free unleashes the pleasure we have in freedom and gives us the inspiration and ability to “pay it forward to others.” It is for freedom that Christ has set free (Galatians 5:1).
Good morning. What I learned about grace is that it is the desire to please God. Loving Him is wanting to please Him and not following the ways of the world. It is wanting to learn to do life with Him and knowing who you are a child of God.
Legalism is when we feel obligated to obey (respond) to God’s plans, will, and what He desires for us. God is always looking for people who want to do life with Him, because He loves us, and it blesses His heart that we love Him and are very thankful for His love. He is truly working out everything for the good of those who truly love Him!
I love how you highlighted the fact that grace prepares the heart for the pleasure of serving God. That is such a beautiful and exciting truth as opposed to just feeling obligated or forced. As the Bible says in 1 Samuel 15:22, “To obey is better than sacrifice.”
Serving and loving the Lord in light of his grace is better than the sacrifice that we must undergo to follow religious rules. Grace wins cause grace is better. Thank you for pointing this out, Heidi!
I wrote a poem out of the Wednesday Ladies’ Bible study:
My cup fills with more grace each time I seek God.
He pours into it, mercy anew upon morning’s dew.
My cup overflows the more God I get to know.
God puts into it, faith, joy and peace.
What that means to me is that my cup is full of hopes and promises and it warms me up with comfort in times of distress and sadness.
Another beautiful and poetic offering, Jeri. I love the picture of God pouring his grace, joy, faith, and peace into our cup each day, filling us with what we need for the journey. I’ve always thought the imagery of His new and renewed mercy every morning is so hopeful and uplifting and like you, I find that it comforts me.
Thank you for sharing this and giving us a word picture of God’s love and hope!
I got a song this week from Pastors Ken & Heidi called, “God’s Favor”
We are children of the Lord, children of the Lord Most High
Living in God’s favor and spiritual blessings
Receiving his love, grace, and mercy
Glory, glory, glory, we are God’s children
Learning to be like our Father
Loving and sharing his blessings
We are children of God, children of God
We are God’s children. His love for us is overwhelming. Let’s show others His love and plant some seeds and watch them grow.
I am so thankful for God’s favor on our lives as His children too, Alma. He is a good Father who cares for and blesses His sons and daughters. It is truly a privilege to be one of His and take part in His promises through Christ. Your song made me think of one I have loved for a few years now called “Child of God” that goes like this:
Who am I that the highest King
Would welcome me?
I was lost but He brought me in
Oh His love for me
Oh His love for me
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I’m a child of God
Yes I am
I got a poem from our time at church today.
You are a pillar
Open your ears, your heart
For this is a new season!
Forget yesterday’s pain. Focus on today’s gain.
Storms do persist but be able to resist
For this is a new season!
Remember Jesus Reigns. Brace yourself!
His grace is sufficient.
What that means to me is that this is a new season. We should expect more blessings instead of cursing. We should cast all our worries aside now. God is our pillar in this new season.
This is wonderful, Jeri. With God as the pillar, why do we worry and how could we not expect blessings and good things? Sometimes, I can’t believe that I allow myself to worry and not trust Him but I’m thankful for new mercies and grace and seasons of life.
Your poem and word reminded me of Isaiah 43:19 where it says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” God is doing something new. May we expect it in faith.
Today as we came to the culmination of Galatians chapter 2, I was drawn again to verse 10: “They only (made one stipulation) that we were to remember the poor, which is the very thing I was also eager to do” And God was saying to me that it is very important that I continue to share Him with everyone I come into contact with. For me to show the love that He has shown to me. With others, I may not see the impact it has made now but eventually I will. And be glad in it.
An what that means to me is you never know what a kind word or a kind gesture can do for someone, But always be sure to plant that seed. You never know that when you walk through the holy gate if that one person is standing on the other side to greet you. Thank you, Pastor Ken, for that analogy today.
I am thankful that God allows us to be a part of His kingdom work by simply planting seeds and watering them and then watching Him cause them to grow. I love Paul’s analogy in 1 Corinthians 3 of some planting seeds, some watering “but only God, makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
As you said, we have one purpose and that is to share Him with everyone we come in contact with. The exciting part is watching God grow in us and others.
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