King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Chapters: Galatians 1-3
Message: Do Not Frustrate Grace
Hello My Friend,
Yesterday I talked about there only being one Gospel that we are to follow, today, we are going to learn and understand why this is so crucial and important. As I have said before, and every person who preaches or teaches from the King James Bible will tell you that religion saves no one, it will send people straight to hell. We are saved by grace, through our faith in Christ alone, period! There is nothing more that we need to do to save our soul from eternal death. Now, we who are saved by grace understand that grace should never be taken for granted, and therefore, we live through Christ, [Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.]
[I do not frustrate the grace of God:] Frustrate; To make null; to nullify; to render of no effect. Grace is the unmerited favor of God upon those whom have accepted the LORD, Jesus Christ, as their Saviour. Religion frustrates grace in that it adds things that must be done along with the Gospel, and if they are doing that then they are creating another gospel, a false gospel that makes grace null and void. The Book of Galatians contains six chapters, the author is Paul, and it was written to the believers of Galatia. Paul wrote this letter during his third trip to Corinth, around 60AD. The purpose of the letter was to correct the false teaching of Jewish legalism that got mixed in with the Christian Church. What we are to learn from the book is that Christ ended the need to be justified by the law. The churches of Galatia were formed by both converted Jews and Gentiles, somehow they began following another gospel, which stated that a person only remained justified of their salvation by continued works of the law of Moses. Paul straight up tells them that that is not the Gospel of Christ.
[Galatians 1:1-2,5-8,11-12 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.]
[let him be accursed.] Accursed; Separated from the faithful; cast out of the church; excommunicated. Churches split all the time because so many of them frustrate grace by enforcing all these rules that must be obeyed. Now, we do need rules and structure in the Church, and that is why the Bible needs to be the authority of the Church, but when the works of the Law become more prominent than grace, then that creates another gospel. When we first come to know Christ as our Saviour, the Holy Spirit enters our soul, He is the one who guides us to knowing what is right and wrong morally speaking, as the Bible teaches us, and He never frustrates grace. T is the Holy Spirit that actually separates us from those of the world, especially when we are newly converted. Remember when I talked about Paul not starting his ministry until three years after he got saved? He explains here what he did during those three years.
[Galatians 1:15-19,22-23 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. 22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.]
[immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:] This separation allowed Paul to get a better understanding of the Gospel as well as Jesus, so that when he began his ministry he would be able to discern what was actually from God or man. Adding to the Gospel just one more thing actually creates a false gospel and false god, we are not to combine the works of the Law with grace under no circumstances. Remember, even the apostles had a hard time comprehending that we are justified by faith alone and encouraged them to get circumcised. Paul even fussed at Peter for trying to frustrate grace by adding circumcision.
[Galatians 2:14,16-21 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.]
[why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?] Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who are not saved nor have ever picked up a Bible, who live moral lives. So, it is not for us to demand that people live as we do, otherwise, we might run them off all together, [Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.]
We are all sinners saved by grace, so, we need to have a little bit of compassion on those who are slower in learning the Word of God. Now, as the Holy Spirit works in our lives, He will begin to tell us what we need to stop or start doing, as we read and study the Word of God. Even though we are not under the Law, we do not frustrate grace by continuing to live as the world does. If we just followed the Law we would die in our sins and end up in hell, but if we are saved, we automatically do things contained within the Law, by faith, not because it is required, but because we live for God. You see, we all have to believe in Christ, not just us born under the New Testament, but all who found grace in God, even Abraham, which Paul addresses also.
[Galatians 3:1-8 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.]
[Even as Abraham believed God,] The most asked question by those who frustrate grace is, “If Christ is the only way to God, then what about those who died before?” Well, they too had to believe the same thing we do. We who are saved are one of those children promised to Abraham, the only children to physically see Abraham on earth was those of Issac, Jacob, and Esau, but every day he meets more of his children in heaven. Those who love God go where He goes and do what He tells them to do, so, if He says that our salvation was paid for by His Son, and He alone is all that is needed for our redemption, then we are to believe that and follow Him. So, why do we continue to follow the Law to some extent when we are no longer under the Law? It is simple, the just shall live by faith.
[Galatians 3:11-14,19-22 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.]
[Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,] The curse of the law are the ceremonial laws contained within the Book of Leviticus. Our Saviour has perfectly fulfilled the law on the behalf of the Jewish people, whom He is represented in the flesh from His immaculate birth until His sinless death through Mary. So, we no longer follow the Law in regards to animal sacrifices, rather moral laws. We must not frustrate grace in thinking that our salvation justifies our living in sin. God never condones sin, the same things that are written in the Old Testament that are an abomination to Him are still an abomination today. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law, which is death to our soul. The Law was and will always be our guide to living by faith today.
[Galatians 3:24-28 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.]
Today’s Prayer: God, It is still unbelievable to think that we do not have to do anything to be saved except believe in and receive Your Son, Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Thank You, Jesus for making such a great sacrifice for us, we are not worthy to receive such a gift, but You offer it freely to anyone who comes to You by grace. Lord, as I live my life through You, let me not frustrate grace by becoming entangled in the Law, it is my guide to living as You would have me, not what saves me. Keep me grounded in this truth, and never let me become a stumblingblock to those who are not yet learned of the truth. I love You, Lord and pray in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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