Saturday 21 April 2012

Issue 13 - Day 6


Galatians 3

Galatians 3:1-3
1)  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2)  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3)  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

There are two mistakes that Christians make all the time. The first is to say that we are saved by faith and need not obey the truth, the law or Word of God. Paul’s words to you this morning are, “You idiot! who put a spell on you?” Of course we are to obey the word of God. Abraham received the promise, of which we have become a part. Moses brought the law, which did not replace the promise, but to show the way to that promise. It is by the law that sin is revealed. Then Jesus came, not to replace the law, but to fulfil the law. All scripture is applicable to us in one way or another.

The second mistake we make is to believe we need to work to keep our salvation. Yes we need to do the will of God, but this is so we can please him, having already become saved. Nothing in our power enabled us to become saved, and nothing in our power can maintain our salvation. Both are given and maintained by the power of God in us.

What then are we to do? Firstly we are to use the law to reveal sin, both in us and in those who don’t know Christ, so that people would come to Christ, and our witness be not marred. Secondly we are to do the will of God because we have been made free to serve him, and it is our purpose to please him.

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