Legalism has been and continues to be a flesh problem among God’s people. A working definition of legalism is conforming to a standard for the purpose of accomplishment; which is ultimately a way of exalting one’s self. A legalist believes in order to be right with God a person must ‘do something;’ add good deeds to Christ’s good deeds in order to please God. We are not made right with God based on anything we bring to the table besides humility and repentance. We are made right, our sins forgiven, and given eternal life through faith in Jesus. Salvation is not made more secure by anything we do.
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul tells the Galatians to stop thinking they will be closer to God if they “do” spiritual things. Although our obedience is essential, God has chosen to save us based on grace [unmerited favor]. These early believers had fallen into a legalistic mindset of salvation. Paul tells the church they cannot approach God by trying to keep the law—because only Jesus was able to obey it perfectly.
The law reveals the nature and will of God. It points out our sin; clearly we see it is impossible to obey it by our will alone. Essentially, the law proves our sinful actions are an offense to God and we remain sin’s prisoners without Jesus who provides a way of escape. The law is important, because God has written it on our hearts. As well, the law partners with the promise of God to bring unbelievers to faith.
Friends, Jesus is the Promise; the Seed of Abraham. We have already failed to obey the law, so let’s do what we need to do and depend on God’s grace to teach us how to live. Pray and ask Jesus for help, seek his grace for guidance, and knock on the door of heaven and speak the name of Jesus. Have a blessed weekend…
Galatians 3:15-22 NLT The Law and God’s Promise
15 Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child [seed]. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children [seeds],” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.
19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.
21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for making salvation so wonderful and yet so easy to receive. Forgive us for making it complicated and self-exalting. Help us to share the Truth that it costs you everything, but only costs us our sinful pride. In Jesus’ name. Amen.