Grace Plus Nothing - Poiema Christian Centre

Grace Plus Nothing

Gal 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

One of the first challenges the early church faced was the threat of Judaizers. It was Jewish Christians that taught that in order to be a good believer you must also follow the Law of Moses and adhere to the Old Testament rules and regulations. The apostle Paul preached the Gospel of grace all over the regions of Galatia in cities like Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe and planted many churches. The Gentiles in these cities received gladly the good news of the grace of God. Shortly after Paul left Jewish believers arrived and wanted to bring in teaching that they felt Paul lacked in his message. They were teaching that grace is not enough. ‘’It’s good that you know believe ‘’BUT’’ in order to be a good Christian you ‘’NEED TO’’ keep the law, obey the Jewish customs and so on. They did not deny the faith but they said faith is not enough! This is basically the same message that comes from many pulpits today.

The characteristic of legalism in preaching and teaching is ‘we need to’’ ‘’you must’’ the emphasis is on human performance that takes our eyes away from Jesus and to ourselves. It drains the joy and peace out of the Christian life.

More than 100 years ago Hannah Whitall Smith wrote in her book The God of all comfort about an encounter with a friend who was looking into Christianity from the outside:

‘’If you want to make us agnostics inclined to look into your religion, you must try to be more comfortable in the possession of it yourselves. The Christians I meet seem to me to be the most uncomfortable people anywhere around. They seem to carry their religion as a man carries a headache. He does not want to get rid of his head, but at the same time it is very uncomfortable to have it. And I for one do not care to have that sort of religion.
(Quoted from Hannah Whitall Smith The God of all comfort)

Paul said in the book of Galatians that I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

(Gal 2:21). This is the core of the Message that the Apostle Paul preached; WE CAN ONLY RECEIVE WHAT CHRIST ALREADY HAS DONE!

THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN ADD TO THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS
There is nothing we can add to the finished work of Jesus. Legalism and performance based Christianity puts heavy loads on people and steals our joy. The question we need to ask ourselves is: are we enjoying our walk with Jesus? Paul says that the kingdom of God consist of ‘’righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’’ (Rom 14:17)

Legalism and self imposed laws that we or others put upon us makes the Christian life a drag and we live under the condemnation and a continually nag of we can ‘’never do enough’’! We live in a culture that demands of us ‘productivity’’ ‘’be effective’’ and too often it is the message of the church. Ordinary believers often feel they don’t measure up the standard that is set for them. Often preachers are thriving in make people feel condemned and miserable so they can come forward to ‘’rededicate’’ themselves and respond to the ‘’alter call’’.

Some people even fell deceived after we lead them into a life with Christ. We tell them that there is nothing they need to do except believe in Jesus to be saved. After they become believers they are overwhelmed by all the things they need to do to become good Christians.

Remember. Don’t set aside the grace in your walk with Him. He loves you for who you are, not for what you do.

HAVE YOU LOST THE JOY IN YOUR WALK WITH JESUS?
Jesus says I have come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows. (John 10:10 Amplified translation)

Contrary too many peoples opinion: God wants’ you happy! We should enjoy the Christian life not just endure it. Jesus said again in John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Peter says that we rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8). Even in difficult times (There will be difficult days) When people rejected the message Paul and his team brought and they were persecuted, the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:49-52 )

David says in Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Legalism, performance based Christianity too often steals the joy we have in Jesus and we become focused on ourselves and our own shortcomings. Let us learn ‘’ the unforced rhythms of grace’’ as Eugene Peterson puts it in his excellent paraphrase of the Bible:

Matt 11:28-30
28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
(THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Don’t set aside the grace of God in your walk with Him, it is grace plus NOTHING!

Remember: You are deeply loved and highly favored!