OceanSide church of Christ
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Sowing
The Seed Series
Class
3 – Grace, Law, Faith, Works
1. Grace
a. Grace might be defined as unmerited favor (Esther 2:15-17)
i. God’s grace has been made available to all men (Titus 2:11)
b. Grace might be illustrated by a fedex truck
i. The gift of God is not the grace (Rom 6:23)
1. It is eternal life
2. The gift of righteousness is by grace (Rom 5:15-17)
c. Grace can be received in vain (2 Cor 6:1)
i. We can fall from grace (Gal 5:4)
2. Law
a. The purpose of law is to teach us about sin (Rom 7:7)
i. Where there is no law there is no transgression (Rom 4:15)
ii. Sin is a transgression of the law (1 John 3:4)
b. A man who accepts circumcision must keep the whole law (Gal 5:1-3)
i. Circumcision becomes uncircumcision when breaking the law (Rom 2:25, Gal 3:10)
c. Continuing to break the law negates grace (Rom 6:1)
i. Therefore, God’s grace is conditional upon obeying the law
3. Faith
a. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1)
i. Without it we cannot please God (Heb 11:6)
b. We are justified by faith (Rom 5:1-2)
i. Faith gives us access into God’s grace
c. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by God’s word (Rom 10:17)
i. For by grace we are saved through faith (Eph 2:8)
ii. So, we gain faith by the law which gives us access to grace
d. If grace is negated by breaking the law, then faith demands good works
4. Works
a. There are three kinds of works in the Bible
i. Works of law (Gal 2:16)
1. These works negate grace
ii. Works of merit (Rom 4:1-5)
1. These works negate grace
iii. Good works (Tit 2:7-11)
1. These works show faith and give access to grace
5. Combining the Four
a. New Testament example (Acts 16:30-34)
i. They sought grace, were told to have faith, were taught the law and followed with good works
b. Old Testament example (Genesis 6:8)
i. Noah found grace by having faith due to God’s law
1. He obeyed that law and received salvation