For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:1-15
Memory Verse: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Introduction:
In these studies, we have said that the Ten Commandments law is a mirror that leads us to recognize the inability of our own efforts to live according to the perfection that God expects.
We have studied that law and learned its complexity and the high standards God expects of His people. That they are described in just ten simple commandments. Can we live even one day without transgressing these commandments? Are we honest in the words we speak and not speaking in half-truths to protect ourselves? Do we have thoughts of envy for our neighbor’s possessions? Are we putting ourselves and our projects at the center of the universe instead of God? Obedience in all these areas is impossible by our efforts, and that is a key to our understanding of the Gospel.
Our means of righteousness has always been by grace through faith. In the New Covenant, we are not under a new dispensation as some would argue. Righteousness was by grace through faith for Abraham and Moses. Then as now, salvation by grace produced in hearts the desire and power to obey God’s law (Genesis 26:5). Instead of the law being a stairway to climb to a higher level, it is the mirror that teaches us of our need for a redeemer.
And so, as we step out in faith, we are justified by the grace that we have received from God through Jesus Christ. That gives us a new identity and it begins our Christian walk. From there we learn to live in obedience to His laws. The Spirit of God lives in our hearts and sanctifies us and teaches us to grow in obedience to Him and to His perfect law. As we grow in faith, we are led to an ever-growing trust in our Almighty God. This sanctification comes not by our efforts alone, but with God’s help.
We are called to liberty. The liberty to love God and through love to serve one another. This liberty gives freedom from the penalty of the law described in Deuteronomy. But it is not freedom from the commands of the Ten Commandments law.
Lesson Questions:
- Was Jesus able to keep the law perfectly? Hebrews 4:15. What does that mean for us? Hebrews 10:19-23
- Who is considered a sinner and in need of justification and by what means are we justified? Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 1:8
- How were Abraham and others who lived before Jesus justified from their sins? Romans 4:1-3, 9-10, 16
- What is the role of faith in justification? Romans 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:6; Jude 1:3
- What part does the law play in our justification? Romans 7:7
- Having been justified, what does it mean to grow in sanctification? Ephesians 2:10; 4:14-16
- What is meant by the “perfect law of liberty”? James 1:22-25; Galatians 5:13-14
- Are we at liberty when living under grace to violate the law? Romans 6:14-23
- Now that you have gone through these lessons, take a moment to reflect on what motivates your obedience to the commandments.