The Gospel of Grace by Pastor Scott Peterson
Saturday Scriptures & Reflection – September 25, 2021
This Sunday, September 26, we begin a new study in Galatians
The Gospel of Grace – justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone – Galatians 2:16
“we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified”
Gospel means “good news” and a basic meaning of Grace is “a gift of undeserved or unmerited favor” so the Gospel of Grace is the good news of a freely given and undeserved gift from God’s loving kindness offered to us in Jesus Christ – salvation!
The Grace of God is mentioned more than 20 times in the Old Testament using the Hebrew word “hen”(grace or favor) and the concept of “righteousness through faith” is foundational, “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness” Genesis 15:6 (see also Romans 4:3 & Galatians 3:18).
In the New Testament the Greek word charis (grace, favor, kindness) can be found 157 times, with other forms of the word 40 times. One of the most often quoted Bible verses on grace is Ephesians 2:8 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God”
G.R.A.C.E. acronym/acrostic:
There are many good acronyms and acrostics that help give the fuller meaning of Biblical grace. I am going to resist my urge to use one of them this Sunday, but so you know that I am not just being lazy about it, here is one for you:
- = God’s
- = Riches
- = at
- = Christ’s
- = Expense
God’s Redemption at Christ’s Expense or Glorious Realities as Christ Empowers; but not God’s Rules and Commands Executed
Background context to the letter to the churches in Galatia:
Author is Paul, sent not from men, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father (1:1); called & set apart by Jesus (Acts 9)
Audience is the churches in the Roman province of Galatia; Jewish & Gentile believers who have put their faith in Christ Jesus
Approximate date of writing – two views: 1) North Galatia between AD53-57. 2) South Galatia between AD48-49.
Aim of this writing is to defend the gospel of grace as the only gospel that is good news and for God’s glory. Paul speaks strongly against false teachers, Judaizers, who were teaching salvation is by faith in Jesus and by works of following Jewish laws & rules.
We are saved by grace through believing faith in Jesus Christ, not by a mixture of God’s grace and our meritorious works
Application question to consider: What teaching do we see in our culture today that distorts the gospel truth, adding something more to the grace of God to being saved by faith? What must we do to be saved?
{A deeper study in grace: what is the appropriate balance of Liberty between Legalism & License?}
Sunday, 9/26, “Back to Grace” – living in the blessings of the gospel of God’s grace or grace-rooted living
“Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-
-and all the brothers who are with me. To the churches of Galatia:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel”
Galatians 1:1-6 (ESV)
Songs of Grace:
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
Come Thou Fount of blessing; Oh to grace how great a debtor
Grace Flows Down; His grace flows down and covers me
Benediction of Grace & Hope:
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word ”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
