Valor: Grace Above the Law

Notes: Valor: Grace Above the Law

October 6, 2015

Pastor Jason Powell

Harvest OC

What is the wire we are balancing on in our Christian walk, the thing we need to have laser beam focus on?  Justification

Galatians 2:16 NKJV

[16] knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Justification is the truth of the gospel.

Justification is a legal word borrowed from the court system. To be justified is to be declared legally righteous.

God delivers righteousness to us. God takes it from Jesus and hands it to us.

Romans 5:9 NKJV

[9] Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Colossians 3:3 NKJV

[3] For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Justification is what gives us joy because we are right with God.

One of the greatest mysteries in life is that a righteous God in Heaven has handed justification to me.

When we learned that we are justified we all tend to work harder for the Lord, not because we have to but because we want too.

In Galatians 2 Paul is calling out the distorters of the Gospel. Then Paul calls the people back to the Gospel.

Acts 14 and 15 appear to be written in parallel to Galatians 1 and 2.

In Acts 14 and 15 Paul is a new believer. Galatians 1 and 2 are referencing that time.

What does it take to be saved? Faith in Jesus.

Galatians 2:1-4 NKJV

[1] Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. [2] And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. [3] Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. [4] And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),

Galatians 2:5-10 NKJV

[5] to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. [6] But from those who seemed to be something-whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man-for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. [7] But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter [8] (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), [9] and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. [10] They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

The world around us today is trying to do the same things as the false brethren were doing here.

The world is very ardent in trying to tear away at our foundation as believers.

We need to confront the distorters of the Gospel with the truth of the Gospel.

The church needs to hear the gospel just as much as everyone else.

Galatians 2:11-16 NKJV

[11] Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; [12] for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. [13] And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. [14] But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? [15] We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, [16] knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

In Acts 10, Peter clearly knew that he was no longer under the law. Yet, even Peter returns to the law.

Proverbs 29:25 NKJV

[25] The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

I am counted right in front of God because of Jesus, not because of me.

Galatians 2:17-21 NKJV

[17] "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! [18] For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. [19] For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. [20] I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. [21] I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

Again...

Galatians 2:21 NKJV

[21] I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

Nothing can justify us in front of God except the blood of Jesus Christ.

Symptoms of drifting away...

1. Pride for what you have been doing, going to work, the way you act etc.

2. Feel like you act different at church then at home?

3. Feeling a little conviction for your actions?

We are to focus on the gospel. We will never be justified by our acts.

We all need to be called back on a daily basis to justification by faith alone.