A Justifying Faiith

A Living Faith
What is Faith?
Faith Calls for Perseverance

Galatians 2:15-21

The Message

 ^15-16We Jews know that we have no advantage of birth over "non-Jewish sinners." We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it—and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good.
 ^17-18Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?) And are you ready to make the accusation that since people like me, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren't perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is frivolous. If I was "trying to be good," I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan.
 ^19-21What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
   Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

For Reflection

What is the difference between "the letter of the law" and "the spirit of the law?"  Is seems that the letter of the law refers to the literal interpretation of rules while the spirit of the law refers to its intent.  What happens when the "letter" and the "spirit" are in conflict?  As Christians, we are confronted with this question daily.  Paul suggests that obeying the letter of the law ensures that others see us as righteous, but, the appearance of righteousness is not always an indication of one's righteousness.  Being righteous is not about rule keeping, but rather, keeping obedience to God which, at times, may not be interpreted by "rule keepers" as righteous.  God calls us to be obedient to the spirit of the law.  He calls us to follow His lead with confidence and trust in His promise with out regard for what others may view as righteous.  Perhaps, in a Christian context, this is what is meant by the phrase, "Keep the faith, baby. Keep the Faith."

Pray

that you will keep the Faith.  Pray that you will have the courage necessary for righteous living.  Pray that you will live a life in confidence and trust in the promise of God.