Grace is For…

Galatians 5:1 CSB

For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

INTRO—

“What’s this for?” …

Picture 1 — Shaving Razor

Picture 2 — Crescent Wrench

Picture 3 — Tooth Brush

We could ask—after hearing, “Grace is Good”— ‘Good for what?’ … ‘What is this Grace for?’

…and at least a part of Paul’s answer can be found in Galatians 5.1-15…

**GRACE IS FOR…

Standing Firm [Galatians 5.1-6]

Galatians 5:1 “For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Namely, STANDING FIRM IN FREEDOM IN CHRIST!! (Standing firm in/on the truth…God has revealed [in his word]).

Reject, circumcision (5.2-4) — another ploy of Judaizer legalism…with DIRE consequence.

Await (5.5-6; actively!) — “By faith…the hope…faith working…through love.” [FAITH…HOPE…& LOVE]

**GRACE CREATES & SUSTAINS TRUE BELIEVERS.

Running Well [Galatians 5.7-12]

Galatians 5:7 “You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?” [aside = naming my machine at FTJ, “Galatians”]

Running well the race of life as a Christian!

Significant hurdles (5.8-11) — Persuasion (tricksy they are)…Leaven (festering it will)…Lies (demonizing they did).

Poignantly painful pronouncement (5.12) — That those false teachers would seriously be ‘cut off’…that is, castrated!

**GRACE EMPOWERS TRUE TEACHERS & DISCIPLES.

Serving Fully [Galatians 5.13-15]

Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.”

Grace-Freedom is an opportunity…to serve…fully!

SERVE (5.13-14) — Love is the key…One another (good place to start!)…

Based on “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Leviticus 19:18 “Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”

Matthew 22:34–40 “When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”” [Jesus’ questioner = Pharisees; possible fathers of Judaizers!!]

Reject the bite (5.15) — Biting & devouring (usually/often sounds like, ‘Did you hear what she/they did?’)…This habit leads to disappearance.

**GRACE FUELS FAITHFUL SERVICE TO…OTHERS.

CONCL—

SOOOO…what is this GRACE for?

Standing firm in biblical freedom.

Running well the race of life as a Christian.

Serving fully others around us for the glory of Christ.

INVITATION:

Salvation

Standing

Running

Serving

Galatians 5:15 CSB

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.