Today’s Scripture: Galatians 5:4, NKJV- “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”
We must live with the Spirit of Jesus. Paul experienced the extremes of the flesh. From his own transition from persecutor of Christ followers, to being His apostle, to the persecuted. In Philippians 4:11 Paul also said he had learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
We learn contentment in Christ. We also learn where we are to place our faith. There were those in the early church that were attempting to be justified by the law and were telling the Gentile believers that the law required them to be circumcised. But Paul wrote in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (NIV)
We can simplify our lives by living our faith through love. Many people have been crushed by well-meaning believers that feel the need to say, well the bible says… We must be gentle. We are told in Galatians 5:13-14 “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (NIV)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NIV) We need ALL the scriptures, not to live in grace, but to be equipped to live as God desires us to live.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (NJKV) Jesus fulfilled the law by being sacrificed for us so we could live and love with the Spirit of God. Jesus came so we could live in His grace.
Paul said in Galatians 5:18 “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (NIV) Jesus freed us so we can be led by the Spirit and not led by our personal efforts to follow laws and rituals. God’s laws do keep us from being deceived. But we must not deceive others by holding them to rituals and words that Jesus has already fulfilled. We must live in the Spirit and grace of Jesus Christ
Paul, also wrote, in part, in 2 Timothy 2:14 “to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.” (NLT) Are we to hold others to a higher standard than Christ holds us to?
I am not saying we simply need to tell people what they want to hear. We are also warned in 2 Timothy 4:3 “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.” (NLT) The laws of God are our source for truth while the Spirit of God is our power to live a life pleasing to God.
Instead of debating with others and thumping them over the head with our interpretations of God’s laws we can encourage them to read God’s Word for themselves so they too will experience the breath and wisdom of God. We can encourage others as Paul said in Timothy 4:22, “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.”
Let us live in the grace of Jesus Christ who fulfilled all of God’s Word.
Today’s prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your laws that guide us. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that empowers us to live in the grace of Jesus Christ. We pray Your Holy Scriptures continue to guide us and reveal to us Your love and salvation which is in Christ Jesus. Please protect us against false teachings with Your Holy Spirit so that we may live in Your grace forever. Amen.
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