Romans 6:14
The Apostle Paul wrote these words hundreds of years ago and they are still true today. Christians are not under law. Christians are under grace. The Greek word for "under" (hupo) means "subject to the power." People who Christ have forgiven are not subject to the power of the law. We are are free from the law. We are now subject to the power of Grace.
What does that mean: subject to the power of Grace? Grace is charis. It means "unearned, unmerited favor." The word is the opposite of erga, "works." Paul explained it well when he wrote: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Developing a positive, eternal relationship with God is a matter of thankfully receiving His gift, not of working to earn His favor. God gives His love and favor to everyone who comes to Him to receive His gift in the way He directs. It's God's Gift. He has the right to give it in any way He wishes. He wishes to give it freely, "not by works." The Apostle Paul made it clear that God will not allow anyone to come to Him without coming by Grace. No one comes to God by works in this Dispensation of the Grace of God.
If God starts our new lives by Grace and not works, does He then want us to live this new life by works and not Grace? Paul answered the question with a rhetorical question: "Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Galatians 3:3) The Galatians had a problem. Some false teachers were trying to get the Christians there to live their life according to law, rather than Grace. Paul explained the purpose of the law so they would understand the purpose of Grace: "So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law." This is similar to what Paul later told the Romans: "you are not under law, but under grace." We are not subject to the power of the law. The law is something to which a Christian should never return. Paul told the Galatians, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1) Paul was speaking in the context of Christians placing themselves under the law.
It has long concerned us that modern-day Christians allow themselves to be pulled back under the law, just like the Galatians almost two-thousand years ago. That's the horrible law-life from which we came before we received God's Gift of Grace. We were supposed to leave that behind us when we placed our faith in Jesus Christ. God called us to live the wonderful GraceLife His precious Son died to give us. That's what GraceLife means.
Galatians 5:1
Free in Christ! That's what we are. Free men and women. And why are we free? Paul says "it is for freedom" that Christ set us free.
Freedom is a great theme in Paul's writings. Earlier in his letter to the Galatians, he wrote: "This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves." (Galatians 2:4). What was Paul talking about? Members of the Jewish congregation in Jerusalem had heard about Paul's teaching that Jews and Gentiles did not have to be circumcised any longer. They no longer had to obey the Law of Moses. This angered and frustrated many. Several went to Antioch to see for themselves. Some taught the Christians that "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." (Acts 15:1) That was true to them in the Kingdom Dispensation, but not true in the Dispensation of the Grace of God that Paul preached. Paul went with the Jews to Jerusalem to set the record straight. That visit led to the understanding that Paul had a ministry of the Grace message to the Gentiles while James, Peter and John had a ministry of the Kingdom message to Jews.
Paul understood what it was to be a slave to sin. He knew all people were dead in their sins and could only follow the ways of the world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air. He knew they could only gratify the cravings of their sinful nature and follow its desires and thoughts. (Ephesians 2:1-3) That's the "natural" way of things. Paul also knew that in Christ people were set free from sin and became slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:18) Paul understood clearly why God had saved us: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."
God does not want us to be slaves to sin any longer. There's no need for it. We are FREE! Why would a former slave want to taste freedom and then run back to the shackles that once held him? Why? Doesn't make any sense. But that's exactly what Christians around the world do every day. They put themselves back into slavery. How? By believing the lies of Satan and the world. Too many Christians believe they aren't good enough for God, that they don't do enough for God, that God isn't pleased with them unless they do certain religious things, that other Christians are better than them, that God will judge them if they don't do the things other Christians tell them to do. As Paul wrote, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you." (Galatians 5:7-8)
Jesus told His disciples:
John 8:31-32
The Kingdom disciples were free within the framework of holding to Christ's teaching. Grace disciples are free within the framework of God's Love and Grace. We have received "every spiritual blessing" because we are in Christ, not because of something we've done. The problems come into Christian's lives as they put themselves back under the Law. Paul told the Galatian Christians:
Galatians 5:2-4
Christians feel guilt and defeat every day of their lives because of the lies of the world and, unfortunately, other Christians. Listen to what Paul wrote:
Romans 8:1-2
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Far too many Christians are convinced they can only approach God through a particular doctrine, ministry, denomination or congregation. That's NOT what it means to be "in Christ." Paul wrote:
Ephesians 3:12
The secret of the GraceLife is that we are "in" Christ, He is "in" us and we are "in" God. We cannot live the Christian life. Only One Person can do that and that Person is Christ. Christ will "live" His Perfect Life in us. We can't. He can and will. That Truth takes the pressure off us. We turn over our lives to the One Who can Live His Life through us.
Paul understood clearly that living the Christian life has nothing to do with our heritage, history, strengths, talents or abilities. It has everything to do with Who we are in Christ.
Philippians 3:7-16
God has called us to live a Holy life. True. God created us in Christ Jesus to do good works. Again, true. The question before us is what's the motivation to do these things. Is it fear and guilt? Is it that someone else said we'd better do it or else? Or is it Love and Grace? Yes, it's God's Love and Grace that motivate us. We serve God because we can, not because we have to.
Every Christian should share Paul's passion in this matter. It is the most important issue facing the Body of Christ today. What do we do while on earth and why? We live in Christ and He lives in us. We enjoy Him and He enjoys us. We share the Life of Christ in God. Christ will do through us what pleases Him as we "rest" in Him.
Matthew 11:28-30
The yoke of the Law was heavy on the people of Israel. Jesus offered them a different yoke. It was a yoke of freedom and vacation. Paul warned the Galatians not to return to the yoke of the Law.
What is the purpose of our Freedom in Christ?
Galatians 5:13
First, we must grasp the FACT that we are FREE! Second, we must understand why we're free. God made us free. That's fact. His Grace dictates that we are no longer under the supervision or power of the law and sin. We are under the control and power of His Grace. In what direction does God want us to go with our freedom? Indulging our sinful nature? No! God's direction for us is the direction of serving others in love. For Christians hung up on obeying the Law, Paul reminded them:
Galatians 5:14
What happens to Christians who get hung up on sin, law and guilt? They destroy each other. Paul wrote:
Galatians 5:15
If you've been a Christian for even a few years, you've seen this. Christians tearing into each other like hungry lions. Why? Because they get hung up on sin and the law. It leads to guilt, frustration, anger and, eventually, hatred. It tears Christians and their churches to pieces as surely as we breathe to live. Satan accomplishes his goals through believers. He did it to the Galatians and he's still doing it today. When are we going to wise up and see sin and law for what it is? It's the terrible divider in the church. It's what keeps us from enjoying God and each other.
Love, given freely from a life lived free, is the Goal. It's the essence of GraceLife: "to serve one another in love." It's what God's Spirit will produce in us when we open ourselves to the freedom He has given us.
Galatians 5:22-23
Nobody can stand against the real work of God's Spirit! It's honest and real. It's true. It is our strength and hope. It's what makes a lasting difference in our world.
How do we live a life of Love that meets the example of Christ? We ask Christ Who is "in" us to Love others through us. We can't. He can!
Exercising Spiritual Freedom in a Spirit of Love means we are "other-centered" and not "self-centered." By that, I don't mean we deny and denegrate ourselves. We are best able to serve others in love when we love ourselves. It is from a heart of self-love and appreciation of what we are "in" Christ that we can reach out to a world filled with people who do not love God, themselves or others. We have something very special to give them: the gift of God's Love and Grace. We share that gift best when we are filled with God's Spirit and overflow with the fruits of our relationship with Him. That comes from being "in" Christ and His being "in" us.
Part of exercising our Spiritual Freedom is looking out for others. Paul told the Corinthians to "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." If you really love someone, you won't do things that cause them to stumble and fall. You won't purposely try to hinder their relationship with God. Love leads us to do the right things for ourselves and others. If we really love others, ministry becomes very easy. It's not a struggle to do good things for people we love. The yoke of Christ's ministry is easy.
It's time for Churches and Christians to revel in the Freedom God has given all of us, and then turn that freedom toward the world and serve it with all our strength out of free hearts filled with the Love and Grace of God. Now, that will make a difference!
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Last Updated: 12/20/1999 "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
The Heart of GraceLife
The heart and core of GraceLife is Freedom in Christ. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained."
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."
"The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."