My Bible gives this chapter the title "The Law and Faith in Christ". This discussion still goes on today. We are constantly reverting to believing that if we keep the law we are saved. Our natural laws come from the Bible - and we learn to obey God by learning to obey the laws in our own homes - our mom and dad - but the law in scripture is there just to show us what our sins are. If there was not law we wouldn't even know what we are doing wrong!! BUT obeying the law doesn't lead us to the Lord - or get us into heaven - it is faith in Him that brings us life everlasting.
FAITH - BELIEVING - it's in the knowing, not in the doing. Although the doing is important because that is what we know God wants from us AFTER our heart is given to Him. If our faith is in Him then we naturally want to DO what He wants us to do. It's not just in obeying His laws that we give ourselves to Him.
The reason this is so important is because we have to recognize that going to church on Sunday or reading our Bible daily, or whatever RULE is set before us is not what the Lord is looking for in us. If He can capture our heart so our faith is in Him, then He knows He has all of us. Paul was breaking tradition and showing believers that it is a new day. Christ has "rescued us from the curse of the law." (vs 13) and He has given us a promise that if we put our faith in Him we will receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith (vs 14).
Because Abraham is the "Father of our faith" Paul begins to show us how all the promises that we given to Abraham are also ours. This continues in cahpter 4.
How do you see "law" vs "faith"? How has God freed you from serving Him in legalism or law and given you faith to serve Him as He shows you?
3 comments:
As I reread my post for this morning I got to thinking----why is faith so much harder than works? I think it's because we like the control issue and if we can earn "points" with God by what we do for him then we are in control - if we only know him and serve him because of how we trust and believe and have faith in him then that isn't something we can measure or see or control. It always goes back to the heart issue. Our heart has to be in His control, not ours.
I love how Galatians 3:3 reads in the Message Remix … “For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?”
We get saved by faith and then we continue, or attempt to continue, control of our lives. We don’t want to give up running our own lives. Yet we find out that we cannot change even a smidgen of our lives by our own power, but we continue to try. I picture God sitting on His throne, either amused or saddened, as He watches our foolish attempts to change by rules we inflict on ourselves. It’s similar to dieting…inflicting rules and punishment on ourselves instead of allowing God to dethrone the “god” of food. I’m not saying we should ignore good eating habits or exercise, but those things alone will not bring permanent change to our lives apart from allowing God to deal with our heart issues about food. It’s similar to the thought process of an abused woman … “I’ll do better next time” or “I’ll never do that again” … a thought process we all use at times, which sets us up for failure. “We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until we could put our faith in the coming Savior. The law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came.” (vs. 23-24 NLT).
“All who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith." (vs. 9, NLT) A good reminder to each of us that whatever God promised Abraham is ours, too, by faith...trusting that God will do what He says He will do...not because of our works or rules but because of who He is!
Back to your thoughts on works versus faith, I think that we can see and touch "works" and the world rewards us for doing things to help others but faith...that is another story and it is just that faith. We "know" it is real but when doubting comes along works are more satisfying. Plus in my case it can distract me so I don't have to really think but can keep busy doing things and not question my faith or lack or faith.
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