Saturday, September 19, 2015

Saturday, September 19, 2015

"Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you."  [Galatians‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭MSG‬‬]

Over the summer, I've had a number of God-conversations with people.  The number one catch phrase has been this:  "I believe that if I'm a good person that's good enough." In almost every instance my follow-up question has been "What does it mean to be good?"  For many, "being good" means doing good works - helping old ladies cross streets, being "nice," lending a helping hand to someone in need.  These are all good works, but can they save us from the penalty of sin?

The new Christians in the province of Galatia faced this struggle between righteousness by faith in Christ versus righteousness by works of the Jewish law.  They were troubled by the very same issues that people face today.  "Will God accept me if I do some really great things for Him?"  This is an issue for both those outside of the community of faith and inside.  At the root of this thought is the pride of individualism - the proverbial "self-made man."

 

 However, the gospel of the kingdom, which Jesus preached everywhere He ministered, does not have any room for "self-made" people.  In Mark 10:15 Jesus is recorded as saying, "Anyone who will not RECEIVE the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (emphasis added).  No one can work their way into the kingdom - we'll never be good enough.  "As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10).  So, where is our hope?

 

One day when traveling, men approached Jesus and asked, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"  Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:28-29).  The issue between God and humankind has never been about us gaining God's acceptance or love.  God has always accepted us and has always loved us.  The issue has always been sin and its destructive nature.  We can never "work away" our sins.  We only need to receive the blood of Jesus to wash them away and then turn our hearts to follow Him in love.