Finding Freedom in Faith: Dying to Law, Living through Christ
Pastor Sam Kraemer unfolds a profound exploration of the intricate relationship between the law and the gospel in the Christian walk. His sermon, digested from a chapter-by-chapter study of the Book of Galatians, delves into the seemingly paradoxical concept of being 'dead to the law but alive to Christ'. The following article encapsulates the profound insights from his teaching.
Key Takeaways:
Embracing Dualities: Recognizing that biblical truths like the law and the gospel complement rather than conflict with each other.
Transformative Faith: Understanding that Christian life involves not only death to the law but also a new life in Christ that bears tangible fruit.
Gospel-Led Obedience: The pursuit of holiness is an outcome of faith in Christ, who lived the law perfectly on our behalf.
Dead to the Law, Alive to the Gospel
The notion that the law and the gospel work in tandem, as described by Pastor Kraemer, challenges the belief that they are at odds. Christians, through faith, undergo a symbolic death to the law by rejecting its authority to save and breaking free from the grip of sin. This liberating realization unfolds in the belief that the law is no longer a chastising force but a guiding light reflecting one's salvation through Christ.
"The Bible has always taught from beginning to end that we are saved by faith, by the mercy of God," explains Pastor Kraemer while emphasizing that believers are no longer subject to the law's rigid demands for salvation. It's a liberation from the law's condemnation and a step into the freedom that faith in Christ provides, forging a personal relationship with God beyond legalistic confines.
Manifesting Christ in Our Lives
The sermon pivots to the heartfelt assertion that Christ should live through believers. Pastor Kraemer asserts, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me," underscoring the tangible transformation faith brings to a believer's life. This goes beyond a mere intellectual assent to a dynamic interplay of spiritual truth and physical reality.
"And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God," Pastor Kraemer reiterates, pointing to the transformation that should be evident in a Christian's life. The embodiment of Christ means that the ideals He lived by – faithfulness, love, sacrifice – should resonate in our own actions, thoughts, and interactions.
The Role of Sanctification
Delving deeper, Pastor Kraemer aligns the concept of sanctification with the journey of faith. "Sanctification is a progressive work," he states, highlighting that genuine faith is never stagnant but continually evolves towards Christlikeness. The truth that believers are dead to the law does not eliminate the law's significance but reframes it within the empowering work of the Holy Spirit to conform us to the image of Christ.
"There is a growing obedience in holiness," Kraemer proclaims, stressing that sanctification is the natural progression of salvation. In this, the law becomes not a shackle but a scope through which we aim to embody Christ’s character and love.
As Pastor Kraemer concludes his powerful discourse, he brings home the urgency of understanding the fullness of the gospel, clarifying that "if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." The affirmation is clear: the law serves to convict, but the grace of the gospel is our path to salvation and the catalyst for a life transformed in obedience and service to God.
Reflecting upon the key insights from Pastor Sam Kraemer's sermon invites an introspective yet outwardly demonstrative faith journey. While dying to the law in the traditional legalistic sense, living through Christ embodies an active endeavor to reflect His image holistically. It is this balance between receiving grace and expressing it through godliness that underscores a life truly dead to law but vibrantly alive in Christ.
