Gratuitous Grace
Miles Stanford emphasizes the importance of understanding and living by grace, rather than trying to follow the law, in order to experience true freedom and live a life that honors God.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of understanding the distinction between law and grace in the believer's life. He highlights that grace forsaken leads to forfeited freedom, and it is crucial for believers to grasp dispensational truth to align with God's present purpose. Stanford explains that the Law of Moses is tied to Israel's sacrifices and rituals, while the laws of the kingdom pertain to future conditions under the reign of the King. He warns against mixing the principles of law and grace, stating that grace alone now reigns through Christ to the glory of the triune God.
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"Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law but under grace" (Romans 6:14).
Grace forsaken is freedom forfeited.
"In considering the whole testimony of the Bible, it is almost as important for the believer who would do the will of God to recognize that which does not concern him as it is for him to recognize that which does concern him.
"It is obvious that, apart from the knowledge of dispensational truth, the believer will not be intelligently adjusted to the present purpose and will of God in the world. Such knowledge alone will save him from assuming the hopeless legality of the dispensation that is past or from undertaking the impossible world transforming program belonging to the dispensation which is to come." -W.S.C.
"The Law of Moses is interrelated and wholly dependent on the sacrifices and ritual provided for Israel in the land. The laws of the kingdom (Sermon on the Mount) are only related to the future kingdom conditions which shall be in the earth under the power and presence of the King when Satan is bound, creation delivered, and all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest.
"All harmony of truth is shattered when there is the slightest commingling of the principles of law and grace. Grace alone now reigns through Christ to the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
"By the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace, which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10). - Miles Stanford
Sermon Outline
- Understanding Grace
- Recognizing the difference between law and grace
- The importance of dispensational truth
- The relationship between the Law of Moses and the kingdom of God
Key Quotes
“Grace forsaken is freedom forfeited.” — Miles J. Stanford
“All harmony of truth is shattered when there is the slightest commingling of the principles of law and grace.” — Miles J. Stanford
“By the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace, which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We must recognize the difference between law and grace in order to live intelligently in the present and avoid trying to follow the impossible program of the future kingdom.
- Grace is what enables us to live a life that honors God, and it is the source of our strength and ability to serve Him.
- We must not commingle the principles of law and grace, as this will only lead to confusion and a lack of harmony in our lives.