Galatians 1-3

December 5

Galatians 1-3

Sometimes gifts are hard to receive. We want to deserve the gift. We want to give back to pay back for the gift we have been given. The Galatians had accepted the gift God had given them. They realized they could not obey the law, but that God had given them the gift of salvation. But when some men came from Jerusalem and told them they also needed to obey the law, the Galatians began adding the law to faith in Jesus.

Jesus plus nothing is enough. When we try to add to the requirements of our salvation we cheapen the price Jesus paid for us. We in effect are saying His blood is not powerful enough to save us, we need more. "Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." (Galatians 2:16, NIV)

Salvation has always been by faith. Abraham was credited as righteous by faith. The Israelites followed God by faith. The observance of the law was done as a result of faith; faith was not a result of the law. To try to live by the law is a recipe for failure. We cannot live perfectly by the law, but if we try to live by the law, we must live by all of the law. The law is not meant to save us; it reveals our need for a Savior. "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." (Galatians 3:14, NIV)

God has given us the gift of salvation that can only be received by faith. Any attempt to get our salvation by any means other than by faith is to reject God and His gift. We can trust Him to save us because He is good.