Chapter 2 - God's Grace to You

Chapter 2

GOD’S GRACE TO YOU

(Galatians 1:1-5)

Before we begin our study let us pray,

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Father God we ask You to please bless this time of study. Father, please open our ears, our eyes and our hearts so we can better understand and comprehend Your Word. In addition, please reveal to us the glorious Grace You have extended to us through Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

INTRODUCTION

Let us begin our study by reading the following salutation from Apostle Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia.

Galatians 1:1-5

"[1] Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-- [2] and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: [3] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, [4] who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, [5] to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

As we study the New Testament we find that there is great significance within the Paul’s salutation. Specifically, we discover that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ had extended to the churches in Galatia and now to us, His Grace and Peace.

Since the study of these two great gifts would be too long to cover in one chapter, they have been partition into the following two chapters: (1) Chapter 2 (This chapter) titled; “God’s Grace to you” and (2) Chapter 3 titled; “God’s Peace to You.”

To explore the significance of God's Grace we will,

1. Read the definition or meaning of God’s Grace.

2. Review the Old Testament Ceremonial Law of Atonement that was required to make amends for the forgiveness of sins.

3. Discover the purpose and significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

With this introduction in mind we begin reading the following,

DEFINITION OF GOD’S GRACE

According to Webster's New World Dictionary, as applied to religious matters, it means:

1. Unmerited love and favor of God.

2. God's influence acting upon us to make us pure and morally strong.

Question: Given this definition, how has God extended and extends His Grace to you and me?

To find out let us reread the following verses from the theme of this chapter … specifically, let us read from,

Galatians 1:3-4

"[3] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, [4] who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,"

Let us notice the following verse,

4 … Jesus gave Himself to rescue us from this present evil age.

To expand upon this, let us read the following excerpt from Peter’s second epistle. The Scriptures of interest for this study are,

2 Peter 1:2-4

[2] Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, [3] as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, [4] by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Question: How did Jesus do this?

The answer to this question lies within,

THE OLD TESTAMENT CERMONIAL LAW OF ATONEMENT FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Before we explore the Law of Atonement it is noted that when God called Moses to give him the Law on Mount Sinai, the Law was actually composed of two major sections. These two sections or partitions were the Moral Law and Ceremonial Law.

The Moral Law contained and documented the Ten Commandments along with the various amplifications of what it meant. More specifically, the Moral Law contained the rules or laws for the manner in which God wanted us to live. In addition it contained the associated penalty for any sin or trespass against this law (see Exodus 20:1-23:9).

The second portion of the Law was the Ceremonial Law. This Law contained all the regulations and activities associated with the required sacrifices to atone for the forgiveness of any sin and or trespass against the Moral Law. In addition, to help the people remember all that God did for them and bring them close to Him, the Ceremonial Law also contained the rules and regulations for various feasts and ceremonies that the Israelites were to periodically observe. Finally, the Ceremonial Law also contained the design, purpose and regulations for the building of the Temple and its associated services (see Exodus 25:1-31:11, all of Leviticus and Numbers 28:1-29-29:40).

With the above background in mind let us now review what was required to be done to atone or make amends for an unintentional sin. These requirements are recorded in,

Leviticus 4:27-31

""'[27] If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, he is guilty. [28] When he is made aware of the sin he committed, he must bring as his offering for the sin he committed a female goat without defect. [29] He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. [30] Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. [31] He shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven."

Let us notice the following verses,

28 … When a person became aware that they had committed a sin they had to bring a female goat that was without blemish, which means it is in perfect condition, as an offering for their sin.

29(a) … He was to lay his hand on the goat. This was done to symbolically transfer that person's sin to the goat.

29(b) … The individual who sinned had to slaughter the goat. This was to make it clear that it was because of their sin this innocent goat was being sacrificed. In other words, the goat was taking the consequence that really belonged to the person who sinned.

30 … It was the priest who offered to God the blood of the sacrificed goat.

31 … The priest also offered to God what was considered the best part of the goat, that is the fat. After the blood and fat were offered atonement, that is amends, was made for the sin committed by the individual and he was forgiven.

This brings us to,

THE PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION

As we read the New Testament we find that the Old Testament Ceremonial Law was only a shadow of what was to come. In other words, the Bible teaches us that the Law was instituted to teach us about and point us to the time when the Messiah, who was and is Jesus Christ, would come and make atonement for you and me once and for all. To see this let us read from,

Hebrews 10:1-5

"[1] The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. [2] If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. [3] But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, [4] because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. [5] Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.”

Let us notice the following verses,

1 … The law was only a shadow of what was to come. In other words it was instituted to teach us about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The reason for this was that all the sacrifices demanded by the Ceremonial Law could not perfect a person. In other words, these sacrifices could not change a person or their sinful nature.

2 … If the law could change an individual's sinful nature then ultimately there would come a time when there will no longer be a need for the sacrifices.

3-4 … The reason for this is because the blood of animals can not take away sins.

5 … However, Jesus Christ came into the world with a body prepared for Him to offer unto God the Father on our behalf.

Let us also notice that starting in this verse and extending to verse 9 we have been given the great privilege to read what Jesus said to God the Father concerning the atonement He was about to make for you and me. To read what Jesus said we go to,

Hebrews 10:5-9

[5] Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; [6] with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. [7] Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.'" [8] First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). [9] Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.”

Let us now notice the following verses,

9 … Jesus came to fulfill God the Father's will. Since Jesus came to fulfill the requirements of the Old Testament Law for us, He set aside those laws, which can not change us, and established a new covenant which can and will change us, which is the one of Grace and Mercy. To see this let us read what John the Baptist once said about Jesus. The Scriptures of interest is from,

John 1:15-17

[15] John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” [16] And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. [17] For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

With this in mind let us now return to Hebrews and read from,

Hebrews 10:10

[10] And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Consequently, there is no longer any need for us to continually offer scarifies unto to God for our sins. The Bible also teaches us that this atonement is available for all of mankind. (Galatians 3:26-29).

With all this in mind, let us now explore in a bit more depth how Jesus Christ accomplished all this for you and me by examining,

THE OFFERING OF JESUS CHRIST

First of all, we find that the requirement within the Old Testament Law of Atonement for the laying on of the hand to symbolically transfer sin upon the animal that was to be slain, was a foreshadowing to teach us that,

Jesus Actually Took Our Sin Upon Himself

To see this let us read from,

2 Corinthians 5:21

"[21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

As the blood and the best portion of the animal was required by the Old Testament Law to be offered up to God, we find in like manner,

Jesus Christ Shed His Blood and Gave Up His Body

Hence atonement, that is amends, was made and we are forgiven. To see this let us read from,

Ephesians 1:7-8

"[7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace [8] that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."

Question: Why Grace?

To find out let us consider what the Holy Spirit said in,

Romans 5:6-8

"[6] You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

To expand upon this, let us read from,

Ephesians 2:1-9

"[1] As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, [2] in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [3] All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. [4] But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. [6] And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, [7] in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- [9] not by works, so that no one can boast."

Let us notice the following verses,

1-5 … While we were dead in our sins, it was God who called us to follow Him. It was He who extended His Grace and Mercy to us. It was He who made us alive with Christ.

8-9 … Our salvation, as was defined by Webster, is a glorious unmerited gift from God. Consequently, no one can ever boast about any good work they may have done to earn their salvation.

No wonder the Holy Spirit prompted the apostle Paul to pray for us to grasp the great love our Lord Jesus Christ has for us. In fact, let us go and read his prayer in,

Ephesians 3:16-19

"[16] I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

However, we also find that God's Grace does not stop here with forgiveness. Let us recall the other portion of Webster's definition of Grace. Specifically,

"God's influence acting upon us to make us pure and morally strong."

With this in mind let us now go and review how God's Grace has,

DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF SIN

To see this let us read what the Holy Spirit said through the apostle Peter in,

1 Peter 2:22-25

""[22] He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." [23] When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. [25] For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

Let us notice the following verses,

24 … He bore our sins so we can now live for righteousness. In other words through faith in Jesus Christ we have become born again and have the Holy Spirit living within us. Hence, we now have the power, which is the power of the Holy Spirit, to help us overcome sin. Hence, we have been healed from the disease of sin.

This does not mean that we will now live the remaining days of our life without committing a sin. However, it does mean that if and when we do sin, by confessing it to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we will be forgiven. To see this let us read from,

1 John 1:8-9

[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

25 … Through faith in Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection we have now returned to our Lord and God.

Question: As one reflects upon verse 24 above, one may ask: "How can we die to sin and live for righteousness?"

The answer to this question goes back to the fact that Jesus physically rose from the dead. In other words,

JESUS IS NOT DEAD, JESUS IS ALIVE

To see this let us read from,

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

"[1] Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. [2] By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. [3] For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. [6] After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, [8] and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born."

Let us notice the importance of the following verse,

2(a) … We are saved and made righteous in God the Father’s eyes if we stand firm in the Gospel Paul preached to the people then and now us.

2(b) … If we do not stand firm in this Gospel, then we have initially believed in vain.

Since Jesus Christ is alive, the Bible teaches we, the true born again believer in Him, are now to live the rest of our days upon this earth by faith that,

HE WILL LIVE HIS LIFE IN AND THROUGH US

To see this let us read how the apostle Paul described his new life in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:20

"[20] I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

In other words, by faith, Jesus Christ will live His life in and through the born again believer. He will do this through the Holy Spirit living within them. Thus, when the born again believer places their faith in Jesus Christ to do this, then the fruits of the Holy Spirit will become manifest from within them. Hence, they will have died to sin and will now be living for righteousness. To see this let us read from,

Galatians 5:22-25

"[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

When we live by faith in Jesus Christ to live His life from within us and the fruits of the Holy Spirit are manifesting themselves, we are now living in God's Grace to make us spiritually and morally strong.

CLOSING

Let us close this chapter by prayerfully reading the following excerpt from Psalm 8,

Psalm 8:1-5

[1]O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth,

Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

[2]Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have ordained strength,

Because of Your enemies,

That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

[3]When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,