Sarah (Grace) did not need Hagar (law) to raise Isaac (the church.)

God's grace is not a license to sin. It is the power of God to salvation from sin. Christ saves from sin (Matthew 1:21.) Many try to distort Grace by mixing it with some Law in order to make the gospel “balanced” and to put people in check regarding sin. This is to be neither cold nor hot. Paul spoke of such in Galatians 1:6-

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”

What warped human beings we would all be if our parents abandoned us when we were bad, taught us lessons by making us suffer at the hands of devourers and fed, clothed and loved us only when we were good!

See Paul’s analogy of law and grace in Galatians 4:21-31. Let’s not try to help Grace by re-introducing the law that Christ died to fulfill for us. Sarah (Grace) did not need Hagar (law) to raise Isaac (the church.) See Titus 2:11-

11 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

Grace, personified by our Saviour Jesus Christ, is our Teacher, not you or I. It is Christ that redeems us from every lawless deed and purifies us, not rules and regulations and "dry fast" prescriptions as was the case with the priests of the old covenant. Let’s preach God's grace - His undeserved, unmerited favour which no man can earn by good works- and the people will Live Right. Unveil the love of Christ to even the worst sinner and he will be transformed to the image of His glory, from glory to glory, not by human effort but by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:18.)

In Christ, we get to attain righteousness which can never be attained by obeying the law. We get to call God "Abba, Father," be at peace, give more, pray more, praise the Lord more and live a life in line with the moral excellence that the law demands, yet not us but Christ in us. We get to live in triumph over sin and death (Romans 5:17)

Believe Right and you will Live Right.

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