Do you know the cross alone saves you?

Jerry Parries:
Do you know the cross alone saves you? Let’s talk about it, on Key Life.

Matthew Porter:
This is Key Life. We’re here to let you know that because of what Jesus has done, God will never be angry at you again. Jerry Parries has been teaching us all this week. Jerry serves as pastor at Christian Family Worship Center House of Grace, and he’s the author of The Making of a Blended Family.

Jerry Parries:
Thank you Matthew. Jeremy, thank you for being with me all week. We getting ready to land the plane. Well, if you tune in today, expecting to hear the man of wisdom, Dr. Steve Brown, he is not here. He has allowed me to sit in for him all. Man, I am tremendously grateful for this amazing opportunity. Hi, I am Pastor Jerry Q. Parries. I am one of the voices of Key Life. And all this week, I’ve been teaching from the Book of Galatians. Galatians is an amazing book about grace. And I hope you have learned some things today, or this week, should I say. This week’s theme, should I say, is that it is all about grace. Everything that I’ve talked about points to grace and if you read the Book of Galatians with an open mind and an open heart, I recommend that you read it from the New Living Translation. You will see the message of grace unfold like never before. So, it is a great book to read. Well, on Monday, I talked about there is not another gospel than the gospel of grace. And when you mix law and grace together, Paul says that you are preaching a perverted gospel. On Tuesday, I talked about, don’t be afraid to be criticized for the grace message that God has given to you. Religious people are going to always want you to keep rules and regulations, and they’re going to say, unless you keep the law, unless you do this or do that, unless you perform, then God’s not pleased with you. But you have to know that God’s a hundred percent pleased with you because of Jesus Christ. And then on yesterday, I looked at that you’re saved by grace, not by works. And so, today we’re going to jump into chapter four. And I’m going to jump into, because I can’t do the whole entire Book of Galatians has six chapters and I only have four days, so we have to jump through it. So, today I’m going to jump a little bit more than normal. I want to show you how law and grace works through the example that the Bible gives us in Galatians about Abraham’s two sons. So, I want you to jump down to verse 21. This is all about grace. And like I said, if you didn’t get a chance to listen to the broadcast the entire week, I encourage you to go back to our website and look at these sermons that I’ve done this week. And it’s right there posted on the website. You’ll be able to listen to what we’re talking about. Verse 21, it says.

Tell me, you who want to live under the law. Do you know what the law actually says?

Oh, those of you all that want to keep the law, do you know what you’re asking for?

The Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one from a slave-wife and one from his free-born wife. The son of the slave-wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Wow. That is so good. He says, listen, people go around every day with their human effort, trying to please God. You’re just like the baby that Abraham had with the slave woman. I’m trying to please God with my human effort. Now, let’s see what it says.

But the son of the free-born woman was born of God’s own fulfillment of his promise. These two women serve as

this is verse 24

these two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where the people receive the law that enslaves them. And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai because she and her child live in slavery to the law. But the other woman, Sarah, represents Mount Sinai. represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman and she is our mother.

Jump down to verse 28

And you, dear brothers and sisters are children of the promise, just like Isaac.

You hear that? You’re not the promise of Hagar. You don’t have to live under the law like they did in Mount Sinai. He said, you are the promise of Isaac.

And you dear brothers and sisters are children of the promise, just like Isaac But you are now being persecuted

There’s that criticism.

by those who want you to keep the law just as Ishmael the child born by human effort persecuted Isaac The child born by the power of the Spirit.

But verse 30, watch this.

But what does the Scripture say about that? “Get rid of her and the son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” so, dear brothers and sisters, you are not children of the slave woman. We are children of the free woman.

Do you get that? You and I are children of grace. And if we try to live under the law, and if we try to please God with the law, we don’t receive the blessings of God because we can’t complete the law perfectly. So, when you’re trying to complete the law and stand before God with your own human effort, you’re like, Hey God, that’s not what God wanted. God wanted Isaac. We are Isaac. We receive the blessing because we receive the finished work of the cross. I hope you got that. Let’s jump to verse five. I mean, chapter five. So, verse five, chapter five: verse one, listen to what it says.

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

When Christ has set you free, don’t you go back into bondage. Don’t you go back into legalism. Don’t you go back into following rules and regulations.

So Christ has truly set you free.

Whom the Son set free is free indeed.

Now make sure you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

verse 2

Listen! Paul, I tell you this: If you are counting on the law to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again.

verse 3

If you are trying to find favor with God by keeping the law, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.

verse 4

But if you are trying to make yourself right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! And you have fallen away from God’s grace.

Wow! My God, I think I need to say that again.

For if you are trying to make yourself right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

Wow. Let me jump to chapter 6. This is the last book of Galatians. I’m going to verse 12.

Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised or keep the law, want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save.

Did you all hear that? That is all about the finished work of the cross people of God. It’s all about the finished work of the cross. The cross alone is what saves you. If somebody asks you, why do you, why are you saved? Don’t tell them it’s because you fasted five days a week. You gave your tithes and offering. Is because you live, you don’t work on the Sabbath. I’m saved because I keep the Ten Commandments. No, you’re saved by the finished work of the cross alone. And even those who advocate circumcision or keeping the law, they don’t even keep the whole law themselves. That’s what verses 12 says. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim that you are their disciples. Listen to verse 14.

As for me,

I’m ending with this.

As for me, I never boast about anything except the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been circumcised or not. What count is whether we have been transformed by the new creation.

What is the new creation? The finished work of the cross. Man, I hope this helped you this week. Don’t get tied up in the law. The cross alone is what saves you. It is all about grace. Man, the grace of God is what saves you.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, not of works less any man should boast.

And do you know why? Because if you said it was based on what I did, you would boast about it, but you can’t take credit for what Christ has done for you. You have been forgiven of your past, your present, and your future sins. You stand in the presence of God. Holy, blameless, without a single fault. So, I hope that you have been blessed this week and that you understand that you are saved by grace alone. Don’t be afraid to stand on that truth. Grace is, and always will be the good news of the gospel. Let me say that again. Grace is, and always will be the good news of the gospel. As Dr. Steve Brown would say, you think about that. Amen.

Matthew Porter:
And thank you Jerry. That was our good friend Jerry Q. Parries putting a bow on this terrific week long series called It’s All About Grace. And how true is that? Steve will be back tomorrow for Friday Q&A along with Pete Alwinson. That’s when they’ll tackle this question. Can my friend on Meth still go to heaven? Oh man, you know that is not a theoretical or academic question. So, tune in for the Biblical answer from Steve and Pete. So, here’s a question. Who is the Holy Spirit? What does he do? What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Does God still do miracles? If you have any of these questions, you may want to get our free booklet. It’s called Questions About the Holy Spirit. Just call us at 1-800-KEY-LIFE that’s 1-800-539-5433. You can also e-mail [email protected] to ask for that booklet. Or to mail your request go to keylife.org/contact to find our mailing addresses. Again, just ask for your free copy of the booklet called questions about the Holy Spirit. And finally, if you value the work of Key Life, would you join us in that work through your financial support? You can charge a gift on your credit card or include a gift in your envelope. Or you can give safely and securely through text. Just pick up your phone right now and text Key Life to 28950 that’s Key Life, one word or two. Doesn’t matter. Text that to 28950. Key Life is a member of ECFA in the States and CCCC in Canada. And Key Life is a listener supported production of Key Life Network.