GALATIANS 3:2-5
"This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if it was indeed in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
At Galatia, Paul confronts a troubling teaching spreading through the church, a teaching which still subtly confronts believers today. This teaching claims God is not really pleased with us as his church until we keep the rigorous commandments of the law.
For the church at Galatia, this meant that believers needed to keep the requirements of the Mosaic law, such as circumcision, dietary restrictions, Sabbaths, separation from other peoples. For the church today, we're told what we should wear to church on Sundays, where we should go to school, what music we must listen to. To the church then, and to the church now, Paul offers the same questions. Was it the law or the Spirit which made you right with God?
Here's the bottom line. While God is pleased when we keep his commands, but don't let anyone tell you it is the keeping of these rules which makes our lives right with God. This only comes by the Spirit, and this given to us through faith in Jesus Christ.
Still, most of us struggle to shun that nagging feeling we need to do something to make like us, whether through weekly worship, sacrificial service, cheerful giving, or any number of other things rightly taught to us in the Bible and through weekly sermons. While God does want these things in us, these are not the basis for his love. That basis comes from his perfect nature, and is proven in us by the Spirit's touch.
We can better understand this in our families. As parents, we love our offspring unconditionally. Nothing can take away this love from us, and nothing can make it deeper. It is what it is. It is based on our nature and our relationship to our children. Still, we're pleased when our children gladly obey us, or imitate our natures, or accept our word. It gives us honor when they voluntarily submit to our authority.
This is the same as with our Lord. While we can do nothing which influences Christ's love for us, we can make righteous choices which honor our God honor. It is in those things that we need to be obedient. We give our lives in honor to our Lord. But we trust in the Spirit's presence to remind us we are right with God and that God's love is completely given to us.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for allowing me to serve you throughout my life in thankfulness for the salvation you've given through your Spirit. Amen.
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