A Lifestyle Characterized by Law or Grace?
Galatians 5:18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law
A person living according to lawful
orientations looks for guidelines to order
everyone’s actions
* A person living by the law is quick to judge
others by his own rigid standards
* A person living by the law often lacks love
* A person living by the law is proud of his
own accomplishments and brags about them
* A person living by the law depends on his
own efforts to progress in the Christian life
* A person living by the law gives only out of
a sense of obligation
* A person living by the law loves to set up
policies and procedures for others to adhere
to
* A person living by the law feels estranged
from God unless they are doing something
for God
* People living by the law struggle to have
assurance of their salvation
* People living by the law are quick to
condemn others for not doing things the right
way
* People living by the law like to find glitches
in others’ point of view
* People living by the law like to pride
themselves on their own self-righteousness
A person living by Christ’s graceful
orientations looks to the Spirit and the word
for guidance
* A person living by grace is aware that real
judgments are left up to the Lord
* A person living by grace is loving and
merciful
* A person living by grace gives all credit for
accomplishments to the Lord and His power
* A person living by grace grows by the
power of the Spirit working through
obedience and faith
* A person living by grace gives freely since
He realizes that everything he has comes
from God
* A person living by grace loves to trust the
Holy Spirit in each believer to lead them
aright
* A person living by grace is able to rest in
Jesus knowing that His atoning work of
redemption and power is sufficient to
accomplish His work in and through and with
us by His pleasures
* People living by grace are totally secure in
the grace of Christ that is complete and
sufficient
* People living by grace are quick to
commend people for ways they are trusting
God to work
* People living by grace like to highlight the
good points in every person and their ideas
* People living by grace humbly remain
contrite in spirit realizing that all have sinned
before God
* People living by the law struggle with their
self-image as they base it on their
accomplishments
* People living by the law follow the steps of
other law-abiding thinkers who love
proceduralism
* People living by the law are constantly
pushing obedience to God’s commandments
* People living by the law tend to emphasize
the Old Testament in their thinking and
teaching
* People living by the law look up to strong
leaders who are able to command people
* People living by the law follow the steps of
law giver and implementers
* People living by the law are quick to write
off those who reject the gospel
* People living by the law insist on the
keeping of 100% of the rules and regulations
* People living by the law lives by rules,
policies and guidelines that govern his
thinking
* People living by the law are fond of using
guilt and shame to control others
* People living by the law share many
characteristics with the Pharisees
* People living by the law tend to be
perfectionists
* People living by the law are judgmental
* People living by the law see it as a
necessary club to keep people fearful of
authority
* People living by grace generally have a
good self-image as they know God’s love is
sufficient
* People living by grace imitate the faith of
other Godly people who walk in the Spirit
* People living by grace advocate a balancing
of trusting and obeying the Lord by His Holy
Spirit
* People living by grace emphasize the
teachings of the New Testament’s grace, love
and freedom
* People living by grace look up to loving,
wise and effective leaders who facilitate
people
* People living by grace follow the steps of
Jesus Christ who balanced truth and grace
* People living by grace are persistent in
loving, persuading and witnessing to the lost
* People living by grace advocate
commitment to Christ, His church and the
great commission
* People living by grace live according to the
leading of the Spirit’s teaching about Christ
* People living by grace are fond of using
Christ as the good Shepherd as their model
of motivation
* People living by grace share many qualities
with Jesus Christ who accepted all people
everywhere
* People living by grace are tolerant of others
* People living by grace are forgiving
* People living by grace see the law as a
school master useful for bringing us to Christ