““The Death of a Man The Death of a Man Who Loved Law!”Who Loved Law!”

Galatians 2:15-21Galatians 2:15-21

When he got out to fix it, a cow When he got out to fix it, a cow came along side him. “Sounds came along side him. “Sounds

like a carburetor problem,” said like a carburetor problem,” said the cow. The man was startled…the cow. The man was startled…

There are some who think There are some who think themselves as themselves as the good guys the good guys

who are helping the church – who are helping the church – who when it gets right down to who when it gets right down to it want MORE THAN grace. it want MORE THAN grace. They want grace AND law…They want grace AND law…

Galatians 2:21Galatians 2:21

““I do not nullify the grace of God; I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through for if righteousness comes through law, then Christ died needlessly.”law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Keep in mind, the man writing this was at one Keep in mind, the man writing this was at one time the Pharisee of Pharisees… but now he is time the Pharisee of Pharisees… but now he is

saying he has a new aim and that is to find saying he has a new aim and that is to find righteousness not by keeping the law but by righteousness not by keeping the law but by

grace through faith in Christ!grace through faith in Christ!

Purpose:Purpose:

to further break down the to further break down the barriers of justification by law barriers of justification by law

in our livesin our lives

II In Christ You Stand Even In Christ You Stand Even Though You Fall Though You Fall (vv 15-16)(vv 15-16)

A.A. Note His Appeal to a Basic Note His Appeal to a Basic ConvictionConviction

B.B. Law Can Only Instruct – It Law Can Only Instruct – It Cannot SaveCannot Save

Romans 3:20Romans 3:20

“…“…because by the works of the Law because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His no flesh will be justified in His

sight; for through the Law comes sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge off sin.”the knowledge off sin.”

……law sends you to jail – law sends you to jail – law only teaches what’s law only teaches what’s right and what’s wrong, right and what’s wrong,

but it can’t save a but it can’t save a sinner… Does this make sinner… Does this make the law bad? Not at all the law bad? Not at all for by showing us we for by showing us we

cannot save ourselves… cannot save ourselves… law actually points us to law actually points us to the only was we can be the only was we can be

saved = GRACE!saved = GRACE!

Man had a dream that he was at the gates Man had a dream that he was at the gates of heaven. Beyond the gates was a big of heaven. Beyond the gates was a big

scale with his good works on one side and scale with his good works on one side and his bad works on the other…his bad works on the other…

II In Christ You Stand Even In Christ You Stand Even Though You Fall Though You Fall (vv 15-16)(vv 15-16)

A.A. Note His Appeal to a Basic Note His Appeal to a Basic ConvictionConviction

B.B. Law Can Only Instruct – It Law Can Only Instruct – It Cannot SaveCannot Save

C.C. Justified Through Faith and Justified Through Faith and Not by WorksNot by Works

Justification means God takes a sinner Justification means God takes a sinner who comes through faith…, at baptism who comes through faith…, at baptism and God and God imputesimputes righteousness, not by righteousness, not by

anything the sinner does, but through the anything the sinner does, but through the Cross of Christ where Jesus PAID IT Cross of Christ where Jesus PAID IT

ALL!ALL!

We’re like the man who took his first We’re like the man who took his first plane ride. He was nervous…plane ride. He was nervous…

Therefore, “in Christ” you stand even Therefore, “in Christ” you stand even though you fall dear friend = saved by though you fall dear friend = saved by

grace alone!grace alone!

IIII In Christ You Live Even In Christ You Live Even Though You Die Though You Die (vv 17-21)(vv 17-21)

A.A. Jesus Died Our DeathJesus Died Our Death

Galatians 6:14-15Galatians 6:14-15

““But may it never be that I would But may it never be that I would boast except in the cross of our Lord boast except in the cross of our Lord

Jesus Christ, through which the world Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the has been crucified to me, and I to the

world. For neither is circumcision world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a anything, nor uncircumcision, but a

new creation.”new creation.”

IIII In Christ You Live Even In Christ You Live Even Though You Die Though You Die (vv 17-21)(vv 17-21)

A.A. Jesus Died Our DeathJesus Died Our Death

B.B. We Live a Crucified LifeWe Live a Crucified Life

Paul vigorously denied the charge that the Paul vigorously denied the charge that the Gospel of Grace promotes more Gospel of Grace promotes more

irresponsibility. The exact opposite is true…irresponsibility. The exact opposite is true…

Galatians 5:24-25Galatians 5:24-25

““Now those who belong to Christ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Many try to get people Many try to get people to stop sinning by to stop sinning by

giving them a bunch giving them a bunch of rules… The of rules… The problem is that problem is that

changed lives can’t be changed lives can’t be regulated by law. regulated by law.

Transformation is the Transformation is the sole work of Holy sole work of Holy

Spirit, Who doesn’t…Spirit, Who doesn’t…

2 Corinthians 5:142 Corinthians 5:14

““For the love of Christ controls us, For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for having concluded this, that one died for

all, that they who live should live no all, that they who live should live no longer live for themselves, but for Him longer live for themselves, but for Him

who died and rose again on their behalf.”who died and rose again on their behalf.”

Abraham Lincoln came Abraham Lincoln came to a slave trading block. to a slave trading block. A young black woman A young black woman was put up for sale. was put up for sale.

Lincoln bought the girl, Lincoln bought the girl, took her aside and said, took her aside and said, “Madam, I release you. “Madam, I release you. You are now free.” She You are now free.” She inquired. “What do you inquired. “What do you

mean?”…mean?”…

Summary and ConclusionSummary and Conclusion

Have we died to being a lawman so that Have we died to being a lawman so that we can live as new ones in the Spirit? we can live as new ones in the Spirit? Understand this, Paul is not saying, Understand this, Paul is not saying,

“Let’s go from law to now law.” What “Let’s go from law to now law.” What Paul is saying, “Let’s go from law Paul is saying, “Let’s go from law depending to grace depending…”depending to grace depending…”

““Crucified With Christ”Crucified With Christ”by Phillips, Craig and Deanby Phillips, Craig and Dean

Chorus: Chorus:

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live Not I but Christ that lives within me. Not I but Christ that lives within me. His cross will never ask for more than I His cross will never ask for more than I

can give, For it’s not my strength but His, can give, For it’s not my strength but His, There’s no greater sacrifice, There’s no greater sacrifice,

For I am crucified with For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live.Christ and yet I live.