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 Law Brings Wrath

In our previous devotion, Paul informed us of our freedom from slavery to sin. We have liberty from bondage, and we must stand fast!

"Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified[a] by the law; you have fallen away from grace." Galatians 5:2-4 (ESV)

Today, Paul continues this train of thought by responding to the typical response during that time. For the Pharisees, the law was everything. Circumcision, ten commandments, and every law in between were the way to God and eternal salvation.

Emphatically, Paul is telling the Galatians this is indeed false. Why? 

Firstly, it relies on the law instead of Jesus. Christ is no longer the one we trust in for our faith when the law is the apple of our eye. If only obedience is the goal, we have missed the mark sorely. We are relying on ourselves. We must be good enough. We surely aren't.

Paul wants to drill this into their minds by using strong language. It's all-law or all-Christ. There is no in-between. This leads to why the law is a false way to reach God and experience salvation. We can't keep it.

If it's all-law or all-Christ, and we choose law, we must keep every part of the law. We must be perfect, always. There are no off-moments, opportunities for forgiveness, or anything in-between. You must be a perfect person.

Certainly, after reading that, you'll see that law-keeping is an ineffectual choice. Everyone who chooses law will face the wrath. Paul affirms this by ending the passage with "estranged from Christ...you have fallen from grace." We no longer have Christ's saving work applied to us when we trust in the law for salvation. Grace, forgiveness, the Holy Spirit... all are credited to our account.

The answer? Trust in Christ. Though the Christian life is marked by good works and obedience to God's Word (see day 1), these things do not earn our salvation. Christ is the one who earned salvation for His people.

UNCOMMEN Question: How do we sometimes trust in the law?

UNCOMMEN Challenge: Practice good works but don't live by them for salvation.