Galatians 5:1. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” CHRIST HATH MADE US FREE. Wishing to go back, the Galatians would turn from blessing to the curse of the law.
Their wishing seemed to be for the Old Testament again; forgetting what Sinai saw.
For God is so holy that one failure alone brought them down in despair and a curse.
So, Paul reminds them again, to turn back from grace, which makes things go from bad to worse.
To try to justify yourself by the works of the law, you can never completely fulfill.
You must choose for yourself, grace or law – and broken law will consign you to hell.
Christ, plus the law is not the way, God’s righteousness is imparted to us.
It is either you accept what God gives you by grace, or fall under the law and its curse.
Only by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, can anyone’s salvation obtain.
To invalidate Christ and His death on the cross, as the way of forgiveness to gain;
This means you have no right to claim, though you try very hard; you haven’t become a Christian at all.
You are saying in effect, you are saving yourself, you are not one whom Christ came to call.
Oh, do not turn away from the Savior who died and gave Himself a ransom for sin.
Do not consider for one moment that grace, can be enhanced by the foul works of men.
For God’s grace stands alone, nothing can be added that makes His salvation complete.
Stop here and consider what the Word of God says: take time, open your Bible, and see…
The Christian is not to
1. Receive the grace of God in vain [2 Cor.6:1], but is to Continue in the grace of God [Acts 13:43].
2. Set aside the grace of God [Gal.2:21], but is to Stand in grace [Rom.5:2; 1Pe.5:12].
3. Fall away from grace [Gal.5:4], but is to Be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus [2Tim.2:1].
4. Do despite unto the Spirit of grace [Heb.10:29], but is to Draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace [Heb.4:16].
5. Fall short of the grace of God [Heb.12:15], but is to Be established in the heart by grace [Heb.13:9].
6. Turn the grace of God into lasciviousness [Jude 4], but is to Grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ [2Pe.3:18].
“Father, I have seen some fine people this morning who are trying so hard to be saints. Their works are great, the help they give others is second to none. The scripture texts they write to themselves and post on their desks are certainly commendable truths to live by. Maybe some of them are saved by grace alone, but because of the teaching they have received, they think they are adding assurance to their salvation by helping their fellow men. Give them some light from the Word of God, that our works are a result of salvation, not a means of salvation, In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”