Galatians- Grace & Peace

Pastor Ryan

5 minute read

 

Have you ever backslidden?

The sin you gave up and belongs in your past can often try to creep right back. Scripture is clear– you are free from that sin! So why doesn’t it feel like it some days?

The book of Galatians has the answer you need today.

As a believer, you are called to embrace the truth of God’s grace and the enduring peace that grows from knowing Christ and Christ crucified. In his letter to the churches in Galatia, the Apostle Paul greets them with a powerful declaration– one of grace and peace. This is no ordinary peace. It can only be received through Jesus. This is what you need to know about the grace that sets you free from all sin, especially the kind that tries to creep back into your life.

1. Embracing God’s Grace
A good definition of grace is simply this: “Grace is ‘that which God does for mankind through His Son, which mankind cannot earn, does not deserve, and will never merit.’”

The essence of grace, captured in the Greek word “caris,” speaks of unmerited favor and divine blessings freely bestowed upon us by God. Through Christ, we are justified, forgiven, redeemed, and set free from the bondage of sin. Paul’s admonition reminds us that we are justified freely by His grace, emphasizing the gift of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ alone.

2. Experiencing Divine Peace
Paul continues with a heartfelt wish for peace, drawing from the Hebrew concept of “shalom,” which encompasses wholeness, well-being, and inner tranquility. It translates roughly to “nothing missing, nothing broken.” This peace, which can only be rooted in your relationship with God, transcends earthly limits and offers eternal security. Jesus Himself promises a peace that surpasses human understanding, assuring us that He grants peace not as the world gives but as a divine gift. Scripture says in Romans 5:

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

3. Living in the Reality of Grace and Peace
To live fully in God’s grace means to understand and accept His unconditional love for you. This is often harder than it sounds, as it’s human nature for you and I to justify ourselves with actions, rather than faith. Salvation is not earned. It is received as a gift of grace. Similarly, embracing peace involves trusting God’s sovereignty and resting in His promises, knowing that He will see you through every trial and challenge.

4. Standing Firm in the Gospel of Grace
Paul warns against abandoning the gospel of grace for a distorted version influenced by human ideologies. He emphasizes that our calling is to live in the grace of Christ, rejecting any false teachings that undermine the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross. The doctrine of ‘sola gratia’ reaffirms that salvation is solely by grace through faith, underscoring our dependence on God’s unmerited favor for our redemption.

Galatians is where we will spend the next few weeks as a church. Remember, God’s abundant grace and enduring peace come from His unmerited favor. Embrace the peace that surpasses understanding and the transformative power of the gospel, and bear witness to His glory in your life today.