Grace Changed Everything

Colossians 2:13-23

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that
was against us, which was contrary to us, and took
it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he
made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in
drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new
moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body
is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a
voluntary humility and worshipping of angels,
intruding into those things which he hath not seen,
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body
by joints and bands having nourishment ministered,
and knit together, increaseth with the increase of
God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the
rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the
world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the
commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will
worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body;
not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

God does not run factories; He grows gardens. He is
not interested in your works; He desires to enjoy
your fruit. He does not want you to depend upon your
flesh; He calls you to rely upon His Spirit.
~ Pastor Chuck Smith

Rely on grace. Paul the apostle refutes any form of legalism in a church because it causes divisions. The power of the devil has been made no longer in effect over our lives by the power of Jesus Christ and His great act of obedience to God in going to the cross...

Galatians 3:21-26

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.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law,
shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be
revealed.
24 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.

Some Christians still live as though they are under the law, but Jesus has fulfilled all the law and so through faith in Him, we are not counted under the law. The wages of sin is death, but Jesus freed us from the debt...

Romans 8:1-6

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin
in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the
things of the flesh; but they that are after the
Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace.

Grace triumphs over the devil and makes anything he can do to you null and void. Because of grace, not because we earned it or deserve it, but because it is a gift from God; God's greatest gift. Grace triumphed over judgement and changed everything.

Hebrews 8:6

6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent
ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a
better covenant, which was established upon better
promises.

Reference: Pastor Al Pittman
Calvary Worship Center, Colorado Springs, CO
Sermon

The Grim Reaper Preacher says, "Try reading the Bible from cover to cover - you'll like it."