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Set Free by Promise

October 8, 2017 | Galatians 3:15-25 | grace, law

That our freedom and salvation depend on God’s promise, not our performance is good news to those who know they are enslaved by sin and want to be set free, but it is challenging news to those who either feel they are already good enough or don’t agree with the Bible’s morality. Since they don’t recognize themselves as a sinner, they don’t feel any need for a Savior.

It is this tension between grace and law, promise and performance, that Paul addresses most clearly today. In chapter 3 of Galatians, Paul taught the Galatian churches that while God’s law had its purpose and place, salvation had always depended on God’s promise, not human performance. It is only by believing God’s promise that we are saved and set free.

Why then the law?

February 21, 2014 | ceremonial law, Christ, civil law, Gary Combs, God, gospel, grace, jesus, law, lawful, moral law, Mosaic law, unlawful

“Why then the law?” (Galatians 3:19a ESV). “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully” (1 Timothy 1:8 ESV). Last week, we started a new sermon series through Paul’s first epistle to Timothy. We encountered a phrase in 1 Timothy 1:8 about the “lawful” use of the law. Apparently, the