A Way to Freedom: Grace

 김정호목사 

Dr. Jung-Ho Kim, Pastor    

그리스도께서 우리로 자유케 하려고 자유를 주셨으니 그러므로 굳세게 서서 다시는 종의 멍에를 메지 말라 ² 보라 나 바울은 너희에게 말하노니 너희가 만일 할례를 받으면 그리스도께서 너희에게 아무 유익이 없으리라 ³ 내가 할례를 받는 각 사람에게 다시 증거하노니 그는 율법 전체를 행할 의무를 가진 자라 ⁴ 율법 안에서 의롭다 함을 얻으려 하는 너희는 그리스도에게서 끊어지고 은혜에서 떨어진 자로다 ⁵ 우리가 성령으로 믿음을 좇아 의의 소망을 기다리노니 ⁶ 그리스도 예수 안에서는 할례나 무할례가 효력이 없되 사랑으로써 역사하는 믿음 뿐이니라. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ² Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.  (Gal 5:1-6)

FCF: We tend to lose our liberty in Christ.

주제: 그리스도께서 우리를 자유케 하셨기에 그분 안에서 자유를 지키려 싸워야 한다.

Theme: Since Christ set us free, we must strive to keep our freedom in Christ.

Introduction 

I vividly remember the day that I got my hair cut like almost a skinhead for the first time in my life. I went to a barbershop in my village along with my friends. As the barber made a highway from the front side of our heads, we were laughing at each other while looking our funny look of each other. We were surprised at a strange and funny look of our new hairstyle. We got ourselves prepared to be middle school students. One of the requirements was to get a crew cut or a skinhead. We didn’t raise any question about our hair regulations. We simply followed them, believing that we should maintain a very short crew cut hairstyle. In fact, middle school, high school students, soldiers, or prisoners had to keep such an unfashionable hairstyle. During my middle school and high school years, I had no choice to but to follow my school’s hair code even though I wanted to wear long hair for a better look. There were special teachers assigned to do hair checks or attitude checks. These teachers were notorious for their rigidity and stringency with regard to enforcement of school rule. They always carried a rule whereby they could measure our hair length. They had hair check time on a regular basis. When they found a student whose hair looked longer than required, they took out the rule to check out his hair length. If it was long, he would receive a warning or a punishment for that. Sometimes, they just made a long cut by hair clipper. They rebuke, insult, and condemn students who wear long hair. Those who were caught had to go and get their hair cut immediately. I don’t why these teachers were so strict about hair length. Hair length had nothing to do with students’ character or grades. Students were trying to wear little longer hair. If they did, they bragged about it. They felt they were special or better than others. Hair length was something both students and teachers paid much attention. Those who followed hair regulation were considered an exemplary student. Those who violated it were automatically considered a bad student. Such a culture at school was commonly accepted back in those days. We students didn’t like it at all. We felt we were bound by unnecessary and bad hair rule. Sometimes, we were terrified by mere appearance of those hair check teachers. School atmosphere was not free. It was very strict and binding.

Once in a while, I feel somewhat similar to this at church. We are like hair check teachers who always carry a rule whereby we try to measure others. We take it out to measure their character, attitude, speech, or behavior. We judge each other by the rule. In so doing, we make the church legalistic. The take away others’ freedom or restrict it. No one feels free in Christ, feeling he or she is watched and judged by the rule of legalism. We tend to be judgmental and critical toward others. We tend to blame them for their failure to uphold the rule. We want everyone to be identical, allowing no room for difference. We don’t tolerate anyone different from what we believe to be the rule. Even though we may not say anything, we still carry the rule in our hearts whereby we judge everyone in the church and condemn everyone. In so doing, we play grace killers. The venom of Pharisaim paralyzes the muscle of love, grace, and fellowship. It breaks off fellowship with others. It leaves the door of judgmental spirit wide open among fellow believers and kills understanding, generosity, and maturity in Christ. However, Paul declares Christ has set us free from the penalty, guilt, and condemnation of sin. We have freedom in Christ to keep, fight for, and enjoy. We know why we have to keep the law. We honor the law not as a way to God, but as a way of God. We keep it not because we need to be saved, but because we are already saved and we love God. Out of love, we keep God’s Word. However, a way to freedom is not by rule, but by relationship. Keeping a list of dos and don’ts doesn’t bring us freedom. Only in Christ we find freedom. This doesn’t mean that we don’t need to keep the law. Of course, we should be faithful to God’s rule. But rule-keeping is a fruit of our saving relationship with Christ. So, for us to enjoy freedom is to abide in Christ. Another way to freedom we are about to discuss today is not by works, but by…       

I. 규칙이 아닌 관계로

 Not by rule, but by relationship

II. 행위가 아닌 은혜로

 Not by works, by grace

Grace is God’s unmerited favor. We have done nothing to deserve it. God has freely given it to us. The motivation for grace is God’s love. Because He loves us in Christ, God has chosen us in Christ eternity before, called us in His timing, and has applied all the saving benefits of Christ to us through the Holy Spirit. Grace is God’s unchanging love for those who deserve only God’s wrath. It is most clearly manifested in Christ’s redemption, that is, the forgiveness of our sin. Paul says, ⁷ 우리가 그리스도 안에서 그의 은혜의 풍성함을 따라 그의 피로 말미암아 구속 곧 죄 사함을 받았으니 ⁸ 그가 은혜를 모든 지혜와 총명으로 더불어 우리에게 넘치게 하사.  ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight (Eph. 1:7-8). God’s saving grace is sufficient, overflowing, and superabundant. It is comprehensive in our Christian life. It covers all Christian life from beginning to end. God’s grace is the motivation, principle, and power for us. It truly frees us through the truth of God. It doesn’t free us to do what we desire. It frees us to glorify and enjoy God forever. 

However, legalism finds its motivation in one’s own will. It seeks to show its own righteousness before God. It is proud, so it can’t accept God’s grace. It regards grace as a cheap freebie. Legalists in their consciences can’t accept grace because they believe they must work hard to deserve God’s grace or receive it. They try to make themselves worthy for God’s grace. They impugn the Father’s goodness, trying to show off their goodness. However, grace is not for those worthy, but for those unworthy. Grace is for sinners, not for self-righteous ones. The reason that legalists can’t accept God’s grace is pride in their hearts. They feel shameful and angry if they receive something for free from others. They may feel in their hearts, “I don’t need your help. I am OK. I can do that for myself. I am not a person who needs you.” Such spirit is common in relation to our relationship with God and others. Indeed, they disqualify themselves of God’s grace through their conceit and pride. The Bible says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5).  

 If we try to establish our self-righteousness by the work of the law, we drive ourselves away from God’s sufficient, saving grace. In so doing, we will be perishing in spiritual bondage, separated from grace. Martin Luther applied Paul’s warning as follows: 가라 앉고 있고 배를 탄 자가 배의 어떤 부분에 있든 상관 없이 그 배는 가라 앉을 것이다. 이와 같이 은혜에서 떨어진 자도 멸망할 수 밖에 없다. 그러므로 율법으로 의롭다 함을 받고자 함은 파선당함과 같다. 영원한 사망에 이르는 가장 확실한 위험에 노출된다. 하나님의 은혜를 버리고 모세의 율법을 지키는 것보다 더욱 정신 나가고 악한 일이 있을 수 있겠는가? “For just as someone on a ship is drowned regardless of the part of the ship from which he falls into the sea, so someone who falls away from grace cannot help perishing. The desire to be justified by the law, therefore, is shipwreck; it is exposure to the surest peril of eternal death. What can be more insane and wicked than to want to lose the grace and favor of God and to retain the law of Moses.”

Paul condemns circumcision as a way to God. It is because circumcision stands for something more than a physically cutting off the foreskin. As the false teachers were pressing it, circumcision was neither a physical operation, nor a ceremonial rite, but a theological symbol. It stood for a particular type of religion, namely salvation by works in obedience to the law. The slogan of the false teachers was: “Unless you are circumcised and keep the law, you cannot be saved” (cf. Acts 15:1, 5). They were thus declaring that faith in Christ was insufficient for salvation. Circumcision and law-obedience must be added to it. This was tantamount to saying that Moses must be allowed to finish what Christ had begun.

What does Paul say to them? He does not mince his words. On the contrary, he makes a most solemn assertion, beginning Now I, Paul, say to you (verse 2). He warns them in three sentences of the serious results of their receiving circumcision: Christ will be of no advantage to you (verse 2), you are severed from Christ and you have fallen away from grace (verse 4). More simply, to add circumcision is to lose Christ, to seek to be justified by the law is to fall from grace. You cannot have it both ways. It is impossible to receive Christ, thereby acknowledging that you cannot save yourself, and then receive circumcision, thereby claiming that you can. You have got to choose between a religion of law and a religion of grace, between Christ and circumcision. You cannot add circumcision (or anything else, for that matter) to Christ as necessary to salvation, because Christ is sufficient for salvation in Himself. If you add anything to Christ, you lose Christ. Salvation is in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone.

Legalists refuse grace to retain the law in pride. Legalists who refuse God’s grace may be compared to a poor nobleman who refused to receive any help from a wealthy commoner. He was proud of his noble lineage. He tried to act in accordance with his high status. He walked like a nobleman. He spoke like a nobleman. Though he was poor and hungry, he wouldn’t ask for help from others. He acted like he had everything. Now, he was about to lose his house to his creditor. He had no money to pay. But he didn’t want anyone to know his plight. He tried to solve his own problem. In the meantime, the wealthy merchant in town, one of his former servants, heard about his story. He wanted to help him out. Though he suffered much from his former master, he felt compassionate toward him. So, he paid all the debt for him. At first, the nobleman didn’t know about it. He went to see his creator to earn some grace time. Surprisingly, he was told that his debt was paid off by his former servant.

Instead of feeling thankful to him, however, he was infuriated. His pride got hurt. He was a nobleman but his servant was a commoner. He thought, “How can I receive a help from such a despicable guy? My grandfather and father held high positions in the government. I am not done yet. I am not dead. I am still alive. I can handle this problem on my own. Though I suffer this much, I will be OK. Who am I? I am the smartest and most capable son of my great father.” He asked his creator to give the money back to his former servant. He promised to pay it back as soon as possible, not knowing he had nothing but pride. Then, he visited his former servant and blasted him, saying, “I am a nobleman. You are nothing. I am not that bad to need help from a guy like you. Don’t ever try to help me!”

In some way, we are like this proud nobleman. We owe incalculable debt of sin to God. We try to pay it off with our good works. But we do not realize we are spiritually bankrupt. Christ paid it off by his life and death. When we hear this news, we get angry, saying, “I am OK. I can pay it on my own. I am not dead yet.” We don’t appreciate God’s grace and love that God gave His Son for our sin. We complain to God, “Why did you do this? I don’t need your help. I will take care of my debt. Stand off and see how I can pay off my debt to you.” Our pride, like that of legalists, hinders us from receiving God’s grace or living by God’s grace.

We must humble ourselves first to receive God’s unmerited favor. Listen to the following passage: ⁵ 젊은 자들아 이와 같이 장로들에게 순복하고 다 서로 겸손으로 허리를 동이라 하나님이 교만한 자를 대적하시되 겸손한 자들에게는 은혜를 주시느니라 ⁶ 그러므로 하나님의 능하신 손 아래서 겸손하라 때가 되면 너희를 높이시리라. ⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you (1 Pet. 5:5-6). Humility receives grace, while pride rejects it. Not only should we be humble to experience God’s grace, we must be contrite in heart before God. The psalmist says, 하나님의 구하시는 제사는 상한 심령이라 하나님이여 상하고 통회하는 마음을 주께서 멸시치 아니하시리이다. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Ps. 51:17). We don’t need to prove ourselves worthy of God’s grace by works because grace is for those who humbly acknowledge their unworthiness before God. We must refuse to fall into the trap of legalism. In fact, if we don’t stand firm in grace, we will be drifting away to legalism whereby we try to pay our sin-debt and prove our nobility before God. Our proud hearts will refuse to be moved by God’s overflowing grace.

However, if we see our spiritual brokenness and bankruptcy, and humble ourselves before God, then we will be heartbroken before God, thankful to God for His grace, and motivated to please God. Grace humbles us. Grace helps us see our spiritual bankruptcy. But if we refuse grace by pride, we get our hearts unmoved and then our lives unchanged. If we reject God’s unmerited favor, then we will rely on our prideful attempt to prove ourselves before God by keeping the law. We must extend our hands of faith to receive God’s grace in humility. Grace moves our hearts whereas rule moves our mind. Before we try to figure out what regulations we have to follow, we have to let God’s grace move our hearts. But we often fail to let God move our hearts by grace. Grace is moving and touching only when our hearts are burdened by sin and guilt, longing for God’s forgiveness. When we hear God say, “I love you, not because you have kept my law, but because you are my child. I love you in spite of your sin. You are my beloved for whom my Son shed His precious blood.”

But legalists can’t enjoy God’s love. For them, God’s grace is something they must earn by their works. They demand God’s love on the basis of their legal merits. But they are hypocritical. They don’t want to acknowledge their sinfulness and their inability to keep God’s whole law. Before they let God’s grace touch their souls, they must be broken before God. Their repentant hearts are the soil God’s grace blossoms. If we live by works righteousness, we will be enslaved by it. But if we live by grace, we will be thankful to God. Grace motivates and energizes us to please God’s hearts with all that we do and we are. God’s grace is the fuel to the engine of our Christian life. If we fall away from God’s grace, we will be left on our own. Then, we will be miserable and incapable. Only grace enables us to stand firm to keep liberty in Christ.

Self-sufficiency prevents us from drinking of the ocean of God’s sufficient grace. Grace flows toward the lowly. Those who realize how inadequate, incapable, contrite, or broken with regard to salvation humble themselves. God exalts them by granting them grace. But the haughty, high-minded reject God’s grace, thinking that they can save themselves from the bondage of sin and death. They believe they can deliver themselves from the shackles of addictions, not knowing they keep entangling themselves into the deeper recesses of their problems. For us to live by grace, we first recognize our unworthiness and then humble ourselves before God. According to the promise of God, God gives grace to the humble while He rejects the proud. We must accept this truth as ours by faith, giving thanks to a God of grace. Then, we must take a step toward the oceans of grace and enjoy the fullness of God so that we can live an abundant life before God and a gracious life toward others. We can overcome sin by grace. We can break off chains of sin, fear, anxiety, or depression. We can live a life of freedom in Christ.

Julie Martin wrote a poem entitled “Grace in a Barren Place” as follows: 저는 그 므비보셋이었어요/뒤틀린 교만으로 불구자되가 되어/주님도 찾을 수 없고 제가 마땅히 받아야 할 대로 주실 수 없는 불모의 곳에서 주님으로부터 숨어 있었어요/주님은 저의 사막과 같은 삶을 살려주시고 풍성하게 해 주셨어요. 그런데 어찌된 일인지 주님은 저를 찾아내시었어요. 받을 자격이 없는 제게 그것을 주신 이유를 이해할 수가 없어요. 여기 주님의 상에서 저는 주님께 감사드립니다. 나의 왕이시요.  I was that Mephibosheth/Crippled by my twisted pride and/hiding from you in a barren place/where You could not find me/where You would not give me what I deserved./But somehow You found me and I don’t understand why but You give me what I do not deserve./You not only spared my desolate life but You made it bountiful/And here at Your table I will thank You, my King.”

This poem is drawn from the setting of the palace of King David. In the banquet room, David and his children gather for an evening meal. The call to dinner is given, and the king scans the room to see if all are present. One figure, though, is absent. The sound coming down the hall echoes into the chamber. Clump, clump, clump. Finally, the person appears at the door and slowly shuffles to his seat. It is the lame Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, seated in grace at David’s table. We are like Mephibosheth who deserved the King’s wrath but enjoyed our King’s grace around the table. God’s grace comes to us through Christ. When we look at the person and work of Christ, when we live by a living relationship with Christ, we can enjoy His transforming grace. Grace is a gift of God our heavenly Father. If it is a gift, we can ask it of Him. Since He is gracious, He will freely give us everything we need. Paul says: 자기 아들을 아끼지 아니하시고 우리 모든 사람을 위하여 내어주신 이가 어찌 그 아들과 함께 모든 것을 우리에게 은사로 주지 아니하시겠느뇨. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32). What we need to do is to ask our heavenly Father in prayer. The psalmist says, 내가 전심으로 주의 은혜를 구하였사오니 주의 말씀대로 나를 긍휼히 여기소서. I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise (Ps. 119:58). Prayer is God-ordained way to receive His grace. Prayer is a channel through which God’s grace abundantly flows into our hearts. 

We must stand firm by a vital relationship with Christ and His grace to keep liberty in Christ. Thirdly, we must stand firm….

III. 자기-의존이 아닌 믿음으로

 Not by self-reliance, but faith

Conclusion 

Surely, all of us want freedom. For true freedom, we must come to Christ by faith. Paul still says, “For freedom Christ has set us free!” To quote from John Stott again, 전에 우리의 상태는 노예 상태로, 예수님은 우리를 자유케 하신 분으로, 회심은 해방이요 믿는 자의 삶은 자유의 삶으로 그려진다. “Our former state is portrayed as a slavery, Jesus as a liberator, conversion as an act of emancipation and the Christian life as a life of freedom.” Our Lord Jesus Christ had lived a life of freedom. He was perfectly free from sin. His freedom was in the Father’s unfailing love. Also, He set His people free from sin, death, and Satan. He did everything in dependence upon His Father, though He could do it on His own. God demonstrated His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. If God’s love doesn’t move your hearts to love God and others, you are proud, maybe feeling like you don’t need God. Your pride is your slave master. No matter how hard you try to prove yourself before God, you will certainly fail. Take your eye of faith off from yourself to Christ. Enjoy freedom in Christ. Strive to keep and enjoy it in Christ, not by rule, but by relationship with Christ, not by works, but by grace.

Now instead of carrying the rule in your heart whereby you judge everyone coming in your way, you must carry the cross of Christ whereby you understand what grace you have received from God. Paul says at the end of his letter to the Galatians, ¹⁴ 그러나 내게는 우리 주 예수 그리스도의 십자가 외에 결코 자랑할 것이 없으니 그리스도로 말미암아 세상이 나를 대하여 십자가에 못 박히고 내가 또한 세상을 대하여 그러하니라 ¹⁵ 할례나 무할례가 아무 것도 아니로되 오직 새로 지으심을 받은 자 뿐이니라 ¹⁷ 이 후로는 누구든지 나를 괴롭게 말라 내가 내 몸에 예수의 흔적을 가졌노라. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation…. ¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen (Gal. 6:14-15, 17-18). The cross of Christ is the fountain out of which grace overflows. We must reject legalistic works and embrace the grace-giving cross of Christ in our hearts, so that we can continue to enjoy freedom in Christ. Living by grace means to live by relationship and faith. It means to live in love with God. It means to live in dependence on God. It means to be free in Christ and live in freedom for the glory of God.

Now, let’s enjoy the glorious freedom of conscience that Christ has brought us by His forgiveness. Let’s acknowledge we are sinful and broken so that we can receive God’s grace freely in Christ. Let’s strive to keep freedom in Christ from the bondage of sinful past, habitual sin, or satanic bondage. Satan tries to entangle our hearts in negative thoughts, addictions, or emotional toxins such as anxiety, fear, inferiority, despair, or depression. Instead of freeing ourselves from all this, let’s throw ourselves at the mercy of our Father. Let’s not lapse into the idea that we have to win our acceptance with God by our own obedience. Let’s not go back to our old, sinful way of living. Rather, let’s walk with Christ by faith. Let’s rely on God’s grace, so that we can live freely to do right and glorify God. Please, let’s make Paul’s exhortation deeply inscribed on the tablets of our hearts: 그리스도께서 우리로 자유케 하려고 자유를 주셨으니 그러므로 굳세게 서서 다시는 종의 멍에를 메지 말라.  For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Benediction 

²⁴ 능히 너희를 보호하사 거침이 없게 하시고 너희로 그 영광 앞에 흠이 없이 즐거움으로 서게 하실자 ²⁵ 곧 우리 구주 홀로 하나이신 하나님께 우리 주 예수 그리스도로 말미암아 영광과 위엄과 권력과 권세가 만고 전부터 이제와 세세에 있을지어다 아멘. ²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  (Jud 1:24-25)