GRACE, FREEDOM, AND LEGALISM

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

2 Peter 3:18

WHAT IS "GRACE"?

The Greek word for grace, charis, conveys the thought of someone superior (like God) unconditionally loving and caring for someone inferior (like man). It includes the idea of someone in a superior position (like a king or lord) showing love and concern for someone in an inferior position (like a beggar).

The late pastor and Bible scholar Donald Barnhouse perhaps said it best: "Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace."

CAN "GRACE" BE DEFINED?

Theologians have defined this wonderful word as it applies to the relationship between God and man. Here are just a few:

• Grace is "love in its princely and sovereign form, love to the indifferent and the disloyal, whose one claim in their need." (H.R.MacIntosh, 1938)

• Grace is "the unmerited goodness or love of God to those who forfeited it, and are by nature under a sentence of condemnation." (Louis Berkhof, 1953)

• Grace is "love freely shown towards guilty sinners . . . It is God showing goodness to persons who deserve only severity, and had no reason to expect anything but severity." (J.I.Packer, 1972)

One of the primary elements of these definitions is that grace is free. As one writer put it, "Nothing impressed the apostle Paul more than the fact that God's love for men was a free gift . . . entirely undeserved on men's part." It is unearned and unconditional, being freely given to all who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Our "working definition" of grace at Fellowship Bible Church is:

IS "GRACE" IMPORTANT?

J.I. Packer, the well-respected British theologian and author, has written:

"In the New Testament, ‘grace' is a word of central importance - the keyword, in fact, of Christianity. The thought of grace is the key that unlocks the New Testament; and it is the only key that does so. However well we may know the New Testament, we cannot get inside its meaning till we know something of what grace is."

Martin Luther, the great Reformer, wrote, "These two words, grace and peace, do contain in them the whole sum of Christianity."

A Christian may know the Greek and Hebrew; he may have a thousand verses memorized; he may be able to speak intelligently about each book of the Bible. But if he does not "know something of what grace is," he will miss the bullseye and never fully understand, or properly apply, the teachings of the Bible (see 1Timothy 1:3-11 for just such men).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE "UNDER GRACE"?

In Romans 6:14 the apostle Paul tells us we are "under grace." This means that we live under, or in, a relationship with god wherein His love for us never ceases and is never diminshed. This means that God loves and accepts us today, right where we are. Romans 8:38-39 is our text:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Let that sink in for a moment. Paul is convinced, he is certain, he is persuaded, that absolutely nothing can separate the Christian from the love of God. How we live or how we die, what choices we make today or tomorrow, nothing can cut us off form God's affection. No matter what the failures of our lives, no matter how severe and continuous our sins may be, God's love for us continues to be . . .relentless.

GOD IS AT WORK IN OUR LIVES

The Lord loves us today right where we are, but He also loves us enough to not let us stay where we are. His purpose is to nurture in us spiritual maturity, and He is graciously working in our lives and circumstances on a daily basis to help us grow up in Jesus Christ (see Phillipians 2:13). Thus, though He loves us with His grace, He deals with us purposefully, even forcefully.

IS GOD ALWAYS PLEASE WITH US?

"So we make it our goal to please Him"

(2 Cor. 5:9).

"For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light . . . trying to learn waht is pleasing to the Lord"

(Eph. 5:8,10).

Many Christians jump to the illogical conclusion that because God loves them unconditionally He is pleased with them no matter how they live. Nothing could be further from the truth. For example, a mother loves her children unconditionally (we hope), but she is certainly displeased with them when they behave badly. Just so, god loves us unconditionally, but His pleasure is acheived through obedience. His love is free; His pleasure is earned.

WHAT IS "LEGALISM"?

F.F. Bruce, the great scholar, has defined legalism well: It is "the idea that performance will win acceptance before God." Simply, legalism is a false, non-Christian religion that says God's love is gained or lost, increased or diminished, based on one's behavior. It is an "if-then" religion - "If you are a good Christian, then God will love you." Legalism is a lie, and the exact opposite of grace.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "UNDER LAW"?

Paul makes it clear that believers are "not under law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:14). To be "under law" is to "fall from grace" (Gal. 5:4) in the sense that one chooses to live under the lie that God's love is dependent upon one's performance in the Christian life. It is a place of fear - fear of losing God's love.

God never places us "under law" (or under legalism), and it is a shame that so many Christians choose to live as though they are.

Yes and no. In terms of God's love, your performance and how you live is of no consequence. If Christ is your Savior, his love for you is relentless, regardless of how you conduct your life.

But yes, it does matter how you live if you care about . ..

1) pleasing the One who has saved you

2) living a life that honors the Savior

3) your testimony for Christ in the community

4) avoiding the firm discipline of the Lord

5) living a life of appreciation to God

6) impacting otheres for good rather than evil

7) avoiding the destructiveness of sin

8) leading others to Christ, rather than away

IS LEGALISM EQUIVALENT TO "DO'S AND DON'TS"?

Many Christians mistakenly conclude that having a list of "do's and dont's" is legalistic. If that is true, then the Bible itself is legalsitic becuase it is literally packed with do's and dont's. In actuality, the do's and dont's, commands, and "gray areas" of Scripture only become legalistic if we use them to earn God's love. For instance, a believer can choose never to drink alcohol - that is not legalistic. But it becomes so if it is done to earn God's acceptance (or the acceptance of others). Rules of behavior in the home, office, or school are not necessarily legalistic; they become legalistic if love or rejection are attached to them.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "FREE"?

Biblical freedom for the Christian is one of the greatest and most under-utilized truths of the Bible. To be "free" means that we are released from the oppression of both legalism and legalists and are now encourages (and free) to "keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25). We are wise to listen to other's ideas, applications, and suggestions, but we are ultimately free to apply the Word of God in our own unique and individual way.

AM I FREE TO DO ANYTHING?

Yes, within the boundaries of the Word of God, I am free to apply the Scriptures creatively in my own personal way. I am not free, however, to live contrary to the truth of the Bible, nor am I free to live in a way that hurts other people. All freedom is to be limited by the wisdom of Scripture and love.

"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"

(Gal. 5:13)

ISN'T LIFE "UNDER GRACE" TOO EASY?

Just the opposite! The "free" life "under grace" is much more challenging than life under legalism because it requires more maturity. Under legalism, life is outlined for you (usually by others) such that you do not have to give much thought or prayer to your decisions. Grace, however, sets you free to make personal decisions in constantly changing circumstances, challenging you to apply the Scriptures as God leads you!

THE PURPOSE OF GOD

For thousands of years, God has tried numerous ways to impact the hearts and behavior of His people. In the Garden of Eden, god intimately fellowshiped with Adam and Eve; still they sinned. With Moses and Israel, God gave specific laws and commands; still they sinned. Today, god offers His unconditional love, his grace. Will we accept grace and respond to it properly, and with appreciation obey the will of God, or will we ungratefully sin and rebel against our gracious God?

A FINAL CHALLENGE

In 1 Corinthians 11:1, the apostle Paul wrote, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

What was Jesus' example? The apostle John tells us:

"We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came form the Father, full of grace and truth"

(John 1:14)

Let's be men and women of grace at FBC!