Living in Grace

1. What is Grace and Legalism

A. Grace: graciousness, of manner or act acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy). The free and unmerited favor of God.
B. Legalism: Strict literal adherence to the law or a particular code, as of religion or morality.

​2. Magnitude of departing from Grace

A. Galatians 1:6-9  v.9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
B. Galatians 4:9-11  ...weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage
C. Galatians 5:1-6 v.4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
D. 2 Peter 2:20-22  ...The dog is turned to his own vomit again...

​3. How to live in Grace

A. We live in grace by resting in God and letting Him work through us. Loving is living in grace.
*Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
*Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

B. Recognize thoughts/behavior without Grace

a. feelings/ flesh; truth by Grace (God giving us understanding)    CHART 2
When we rely on feelings, wrong thinking, deductions from self, experiences, other people, books, TV, news, etc., we are relying on carnality- physical- worldly wisdom.  We must rely on the word of God and the Holy Spirit to live by truth.
 John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
b. Recognize what is your gain- who are you doing it for and why (following, pleasing, unaccountable leaning on a check list, self)      See Chart 6

​C. What doctrine or rules do we follow under grace?

* 1 Corinthians 10:23  All things are lawful for me, all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
*Examples of expedient and not expedient

D. How to grow in grace

a. Chart 10   Grace - Legalism
​b. does it pass the love test?

​2 Peter 3:18   But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.