No frustration of Divine grace in the apostle's teaching.
"I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ died without cause."
I. THE GRACE OF GOD IS THE TRUE SOURCE OF SALVATION. This grace was manifested in the death of Christ, and in the blessings derived to believers from their union with him. The apostle's trust in him only magnified the grace of God.
II. ITS FRUSTRATION WAS POSSIBLE ON PETER'S PRINCIPLES. If any attempt were made to put works in the place of faith, or to mix works with faith as a ground of justification, or to establish a system under which ceremonialism was made essential to salvation, the grace of God were effectively frustrated.
III. THE ULTIMATE PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN THIS FRUSTRATION. "If righteousness come by the Law, then Christ died without cause."
1. The righteousness in question is that by which a man becomes right with God. A man might attain to this righteousness if he could keep or had kept the Law of God. But he has broken the Law and is under its curse. The righteousness must therefore be reached in another way. It comes "by faith," not "by the Law "(Philippians 3:9).
2. Christ's death is altogether unnecessary on the supposition of a righteousness by the Law. Why should the Son of God have died to procure what a sinner can win for himself by his own personal obedience? This closes the argument in the most effective manner.
HOMILIES BY R.M. EDGAR