Week 12 – The Principle: Grace

Text: 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

 

There are two possible sources of spiritual power: law or grace. The Holy Spirit only operates on the principle of grace. If we are to walk in the power of the Spirit, we must operate solely on grace.

 

The wrong use of the Law can be summarized as “There is something I must do to merit God’s blessings.” Grace can be summarized as “Because of what Jesus has done I am blessed; I love God and others because I am blessed.” 

 

                               Old Covenant                New Covenant

Principle:                 Law                               Grace

Power:                     Flesh                             Spirit

Requirement:          Works                            Faith

Result:                     Obligation                     Love

 

In Galatians 5, Paul contrasts Law and Grace. He makes it very clear that they stand in opposition to each other. You cannot mix them. A little law derails all of grace. The law is dependent on the flesh and produces all manner of evil. Grace is dependent on the Spirit and produces good fruit, fruit that no law can produce.

 

In Acts 8, we find the story of Simon the sorcerer. When revival broke out in Samaria, he believed in Jesus with many others. However, no one was filled with the Spirit until the Apostles came and laid hands on the believers. Upon seeing this, Simon wanted the power and sought to purchase it with money. He was soundly rebuked by Peter. There is little difference between Simon seeking to buy the power of the Holy Spirit and us believing that we can earn the power through our works. The entirety of the Scripture is clear; the Holy Spirit is promised to us by God’s grace. We cannot earn Him.

Because the Spirit operates on the principle of grace, nothing kills the power of the Holy Spirit faster than legalism. When we teach the Law as a means of meriting God’s blessings, we stand in direct opposition to the Spirit of grace. This legalism is very subtle though; it rears its head in all kinds of ways. The real question is how I am using God’s Law. Do I view the Law as a means of God’s blessings, or do I view the law as something Christ has fulfilled for me so that I might be empowered to do because of the life of the Spirit within?

 

How then do I receive the power of the Holy Spirit? By grace through faith. It is imperative that we realize that the letter kills; it is only the Spirit of grace that gives life. Nothing will ever change apart from God’s grace. God only works through grace. Because of this, spiritual power only comes from the principle of grace.

If I desire to see the power of God in my life, I must embrace the principle of grace.