Not by works
November 4, 2011 (Friday)
The Apostle Paul tried as hard as he could to obey every law in the Jewish religion to be “right with God.” He never felt fulfilled in that quest until he met Jesus Christ. He found that “there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ” (Romans 8:1). He felt called to go into other countries and tell everyone that salvation is by grace through faith–not by works of the law. This is the message he took to Gentiles and Jews wherever he went. He found success and wherever he preached this gospel, people believed and a church was established.
When he left town, however, people came behind him and stirred up the people against him. They told the people that they could be saved only by keeping the law. When Paul found out about this, he wrote to the Christians who had been deceived:
“I can’t believe your fickleness—how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head. Let me be blunt: If one of us—even if an angel from heaven!—were to preach something other than what we preached originally, let him be cursed. I said it once; I’ll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed” (Galatians 1:6-9 MSG).
To say that Paul was upset when people rely on their own goodness instead of trusting in Christ is putting it mildly. Later he wrote to the Roman Christians: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1 NIV). If you give your life to Jesus, he will give it back to you in much better shape. Let go and let God have his wonderful way.