God’s Unmerited and Undeserved Grace
Galatians 1:6
Introduction
A. 2 important Gospel doctrines: God’s divine call and His divine grace. (Gal. 1:6)
B. One of the primary ministries of the apostles was to carefully set in place the individual doctrinal stones that formed the foundation on which the church of Jesus Christ is to be built. (Eph. 2:20-22)
C. How does he demonstrate this seriousness and God’s seriousness in terms of defending and protecting the Gospel and launch this surgical strike against the false teachers in these churches?
I. Through his astonishment. (1:6)
A. Paul uses the word “marvel” here in a negative sense. He’s shaking his head back and forth and deeply grieved.
B. The Galatians were in the process of turning from Him who called them – the “you” here is plural – the Christians were turning from Him who called them in the grace of Christ.
In this phrase Paul reference 2 foundational Gospel truths taught throughout God’s Word:
1. God’s divine call.
a. Definition: that act of God by which men are invited to accept, by faith, the salvation provided by Christ.
b. The watershed difference between the different views of God’s divine call to people to Himself – to salvation – is: God’s role and man’s role.
2. God’s divine grace.
a. Definition: grace is the __________ and benevolent influence of
a holy God operating sovereignly in the lives of ___________________ sinners.
b. God’s grace in the Old Testament.
Grace, gracious, love, precious, favor; grace has at its core a strong relation or covenantal flavor; spontaneous goodness or grace in a specific relationship or in ongoing fellowship; grace or mercy that guides (Exodus 15:13; Ps 143:8); grace that strengthens (Ps 94:18); grace that delivers from danger (Gen 19:19; Ps 86:13); grace that comforts (Ps 119:76); grace that forgives sins (Num 14:19; Ps 25:7; 51:3); grace that gives life (Job 10:12); and the grace that saves or redeems (Ps 119:41).
The root word in the original Hebrew signified gracious attitudes – merciful attitudes that resulted in kind deeds – gracious attitudes that resulted in kind deeds. One form of the word meant “to bend” or “to stoop.” (Isaiah 30:18-19; Amos 5:15; Psalm 4:1, 25:16; 31:9; 56:1).
Favor shown by one person to another. Noah (Gen 6:8); Abraham (Gen 18:3); Moses (Exodus 33:12–13; 34:9); Gideon (Judges 6:17); David (2nd Samuel 15:25) and so on.
God is described in the Old Testament as being gracious. (Exodus 34:6).
See Exodus 33:12-20.
c. God’s grace in the New Testament.
The principal Greek word translated “grace” in the New Testament is the word “cajriz.”
John sums up the new reality of God’s grace as manifested in Christ: John 1:14-17.
Paul and the other apostles: Romans 5; 2nd Corinthians 9:8; Eph. 1:6-8 and 2:8-9 and Titus 2:11.
It’s used of humans forgiving others (2nd Cor. 2:7, 10; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13) and of God giving graciously (Rom 8:32; 1 Cor 2:12; Gal 3:18) and forgiving sinners (Col 2:13; 3:13). A form of the word describes various grace-gifts from God: the gift of salvation (Rom 5:15-16; 6:23); spiritual gifts; historical privileges given to Israel (Rom 11:29) – to name a few.
Conclusion
- Galatians 5:1-2. The net effect of the error of the Judaizers.
- How would you define grace?
- Did you or do you have any part in salvation – apart from God’s grace?
- Are you trusting fully and solely in Christ’s work for your salvation?
