Podcast Preview
It’s a tale as old as time. A song as old as rhyme. From the time of the first man and woman- Adam and Eve, there has been a battle for the heart of Christianity. Paul, the writer of the text that we’ll be diving into this Sunday knew that. And he lived it. And he understood that it was a battle for people’s souls. Will people rest their souls on Jesus, or will they rest their souls on something else? Will people remember that their salvation only comes through faith in Jesus, or will they revert to what comes naturally to humanity- that we need to do something to save ourselves?
For the church in Galatia, there was a time when it was the latter. You can read it in the text for Sunday, Galatians 3:1-9. As you read, you’ll see that Paul dove head-first into the battle for Christianity. He would not let the people believe that they could get their righteousness from anywhere other than God.
I know it may be tough to hear, but my fear is that even in (and especially in) Christians, this thought is deeply ingrained- that being a Christian means being something and doing something- that the litmus test for whether or not you are a Christian is how you live and act. Being a Christian does mean living and acting differently, but this couldn’t be further from what is true and saving.
The only truth that is saving is this: Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from your sins. And this is a free gift to you that is received through faith. Rightness with God is yours- through Jesus Christ.
Understand the implications of that and revel in it. According to the gospel, you can’t be a better Christian. According to the gospel, you can’t be more holy. According to the gospel, you can’t be more perfect than what you already are. When you believe God, you get Jesus’ righteousness.
Maybe that matters to you today. Maybe it informs you. Maybe it thrills you. Maybe it finally helps you see that in Christ not only are there no skeletons in your closet, but there’s no closet either. You really are righteous before God because of Jesus.
Galatians 3:1-9
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? 6 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
