01/24/2024: Galatians 4:8-9 – Legalism rejects living by faith in Christ

Thought for today – Legalism rejects living by faith in Christ and accepts the bondage of works-based religion.

Before we came to faith in Christ, we were in bondage as slaves to the weak and beggarly elements of this world that cannot save.  It sounds incredible that anyone who has trusted in Christ would turn from freedom in Him back to the world and be bound by the Law and its rituals.  This is what legalism is and how it works.  Legalism makes one believe that he can achieve a right standing with God by the things that he does.  That way fails every time and ends in the stifling bondage of fear of not being good enough and pride in one’s own works.

That’s what the Bible says!

 

01/16/2024: Galatians 3:15-16 – Adding law to faith is what tradition tries to do.

Thought for today – Adding law to faith is what tradition tries to do.

In verses 15-19, Paul presents 2 important realities of the covenant that God made with Abraham that invalidate the claims of the legalists.  The first reason (one for today and one tomorrow) is that the law does not supersede faith since once a covenant is confirmed, it cannot be changed or annulled by anyone who is not a party to the promise.  The active parties to the covenant of faith are God, Abraham, and Abraham’s Seed, who is Christ.  The Law has no part in the covenant of faith, so legalism and the law have no power to change or add conditions to the promise.

That’s what the Book says!

01/09/2024: Galatians 3:2-3 – We receive the Holy Spirit by faith, and we live daily in the Spirit by faith.

Galatians 3:2-3 (NKJV)

Thought for today – We receive the Holy Spirit by faith, and we live daily in the Spirit by faith.

If faith in Jesus Christ by the gospel is essential for salvation, then how can anyone convince you that your daily relationship with Him requires obedience to a set of rules established by men or the church?  No wonder Paul calls them foolish.  It is a logical contradiction to believe that faith in the gospel saves but something else is needed for strength or success in your spiritual life.  Devotion to tradition and religion will only bring pride, frustration, jealousy, bitterness, and failure in one’s walk with Jesus Christ.

That’s what the Book says!