This week we continued our journey through the book of Galatians, stepping foot right down into its pages and getting our first glimpse of the gospel of grace. Joy taught a great message (audio available here) that’s stuck with me all week. Three quick things from the message to consider as you kick off your weekend:
- There are only two gospels: The true gospel and a false gospel. The true gospel is that God, in His infinite love and mercy, sent His one and only Son to pay the penalty for our sin that He could be both the just and the justifier (Rom 3:26), wholly punishing sin and wholly extending extravagant grace. Anything that adds or takes away from this simple gospel message isn’t the gospel. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
- The gospel is free. We do nothing to deserve this free gift of grace. We add nothing to it. It is given with no strings attached. It is free. If we ever add extra qualifications to the gospel, it ceases to be the real gospel. It’s hard for us to accept this because our pride wants to somehow pay it back or insist that we’ve earned it. Humility kneels low and extends empty hands to receive lavish grace. The truth gospel is always free.
- The gospel is freeing. We can always tell when we’re walking in grace vs. legalism because legalism weighs down and grace lifts up. Grace’s burden is light. If we find ourselves becoming more and more shackled with burdens, obligations, guilt, chances are we’re not walking in glorious truth of the true gospel. The true gospel is the truth and the truth sets us free (John 8:32).
When we stand fast in the gospel we stand fast in freedom. We receive it freely and we live it freely. We grow in freedom, grow in grace. Our lives aren’t perfect, but are growing toward freedom, toward grace, toward giving freely because we’ve been freely given so much. Our giving to the world is no longer from duty or drudgery, it is from delight. A delighted soul giving out of the abundance of the heart.
If this doesn’t characterize our hearts, we simply need to go back to the gospel of grace. Get in His Word, look at Jesus, consider His gift. Count the daily blessings until gratitude flows like a river from your heart. Daily ask for grace. Grace, grace, and more grace. Amazing it is and we need it each day.
{Are you grateful today for the gospel? Tell Him about it. Tell us about it! Thanks for reading…}