If you missed Mary’s teaching on Sunday, I highly recommend you check it out online. Her description of Paul’s writing to the Galatians was spot on. In Galatians 1:6, Paul tells them, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- which is really no gospel at all.” The Galatians had accepted the gospel message of justification by faith in Christ alone and not by works. False teachers had come behind Paul to add to his message that they still needed to follow the law – namely circumcision. And that is the essence of Paul’s letter. He’s reminding the Galatians that salvation is found in Christ alone!
When we first came to Christ, no conditions were attached for us either. He knows us and desires for us to know Him. He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Our desire to follow, obey, and serve Him should flow from a deepening relationship with Him. If it comes from a place of works to earn God’s favor, it’s not from the Lord. If any of you struggle with the belief that you must obey God’s commands or risk losing your salvation, please reach out to a leader, mentor, or trusted follower of Christ. The truth is Jesus completed the work of our salvation on the Cross; we only have to accept it. Living in fear and trying to earn something freely given to us is an exhausting way to live.
Paul concludes with this, “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” Galatians 6:15 In other words, our works mean nothing regarding our salvation – we are made new and have eternal security in Christ alone.
God, we thank You so much for the precious gift of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus! We rest in the knowledge that is genuinely too wonderful for words. We thank You for allowing, through our faith in Christ, our obedience and good works to flow sincerely from our love and devotion to You. You have set us free, and we are free indeed!