Galatians 3:11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”
The Olympics are just around the corner. Watching the Olympics is fascinating at many levels. But one thing for sure is that when I see these athletes, I realize that they were not just born different than I was. They have dedicated an unbelievable amount of time and effort, untold sacrifices, to achieve at the level they are. On a smaller stage, I sometimes see people who, while not Olympians, have clearly spent a great deal of time on their physique. Often, there is a certain level of pride that goes with it. And why not? They have done something others have not. They have sacrificed; paid the price; put in the work. They have achieved. It would tend to make one feel very good about their efforts. (At least I’d imagine so!)
Paul was writing a letter to the church in Galatia because they had gone off the rails a bit. They were being convinced by some that, when it came to peace with God, their efforts were what counted. They needed to follow the law if they were going to be in relationship with God. Paul needed to set them straight. We can benefit from ‘reading their mail.'
Because I am in a relationship with Christ, I want to do what He says. I love Him and so I obey Him. Paul is not suggesting that being in a relationship with the Lord is a license to do whatever we want - that rules no longer apply. If that were the case, we would never refer to Jesus as ‘Lord.’ But the relationship precedes my obedience. Not the other way around. If my obedience is what qualifies me for a relationship with God, then I have reason to feel pretty good about myself. “I made this happen! I put in the hours! I paid the price! I sacrificed!” But that’s not the Gospel! Paul knew all about that kind of mindset. He’d lived it for years.
But on the Damascus road, he encountered the living Christ and he found out that it was Jesus that had done everything necessary for salvation. All the effort that Paul had been putting in to build a bridge to God was not only unnecessary, but insufficient. It wasn’t enough. But it didn’t need to be because Jesus had already built that bridge and it was in the shape of a cross.
What Jesus accomplished for me on the cross is sufficient, but, in a way, it’s not enough. At least it will never matter to me unless I accept it by faith. When I not only believe in what Jesus did, but confess to Him and ask Him to forgive me of my sins; when I repent of my ways, then I can begin to live by faith.
It’s true, I won’t be able to boast about my accomplishments, but in a greater sense, I won’t need to!
Blessings,
Pastor Russ
