Grace vs. Legalism

As I make my way through Galatians during the Sunday morning sermons, we addressed Galatians 1:6-8 and 14 yesterday...

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ."  Galatians 1:6-7

Paul was dealing with a group that was destroying the gospel of grace by adding guidelines that were necessary to complete their salvation...this was legalism fleshing out in the first century (amazing that it's made it all the way to 2011!)

Legalism = any attempt to earn salvation or blessings from God

Grace = the complete love of God offered to men...free of charge with no expectation of return...only motive is the free-heartedness of the giver

Grace and legalism can be sneaky, in fact one letter can make the difference...YEARN for Jesus' love through grace...EARN Jesus' love through legalism.  In fact many times we can't tell the difference in our own life!

Take this test to see if you communicate grace or legalism through your life...

When seeing someone caught in sin and despair am I more likely to say,

"If they would only do what I do..." or "If they only knew what I knew..."? 

Grace is based on KNOWING what Jesus has done for you...not what you can DO for Him.

Be honest with yourself...this is the reputation of Jesus at hand.