Galatians 3:2
Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
I had a conversation with a co worker the other day who told me she was afraid she was "doing things wrong". I tried to explain that it by Grace we have been saved. (Eph. 2:5) It's probably a topic we've all wrestled with but reading today's passage makes it clear. As I read carefully what Paul says, I think we have to, at some point, accept the fact the there is nothing we can "do" to earn a righteous position in Christ. It's a gift, given to us by our having faith in God. I guess what makes it so hard to accept is that we live in a culture where nothing is free and everything is based on our merit and hard work. Faith, by definition, is having complete trust or confidence in in someone or something. Abraham had faith in God, which is why it was credited to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). Those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham (v.9) I think the enemy would love nothing more than to blindside our thinking and get us to ignore the reality that he is already defeated and that our faith in God is the basis for everything we believe. Paul reassures us that if we attempt to claim our righteousness through legalism then Christ died in vain. I pray that if anyone strives to attain their position in Christ they are prompted by the Holy Spirit to remember that we are not justified because of works or tradition but only through faith in Y'shua Messiah. No one will be made righteous by works of legalism.
Randi
Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
I had a conversation with a co worker the other day who told me she was afraid she was "doing things wrong". I tried to explain that it by Grace we have been saved. (Eph. 2:5) It's probably a topic we've all wrestled with but reading today's passage makes it clear. As I read carefully what Paul says, I think we have to, at some point, accept the fact the there is nothing we can "do" to earn a righteous position in Christ. It's a gift, given to us by our having faith in God. I guess what makes it so hard to accept is that we live in a culture where nothing is free and everything is based on our merit and hard work. Faith, by definition, is having complete trust or confidence in in someone or something. Abraham had faith in God, which is why it was credited to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). Those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham (v.9) I think the enemy would love nothing more than to blindside our thinking and get us to ignore the reality that he is already defeated and that our faith in God is the basis for everything we believe. Paul reassures us that if we attempt to claim our righteousness through legalism then Christ died in vain. I pray that if anyone strives to attain their position in Christ they are prompted by the Holy Spirit to remember that we are not justified because of works or tradition but only through faith in Y'shua Messiah. No one will be made righteous by works of legalism.
Randi
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