Year of the Bible: Part Ten of TwelveSample

The Law or Faith, or the Law through Faith?

Paul's letter to the Galatians clarifies the first real controversy that plagued the church in its early years: the relationship between Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles. Paul's aggressive tone shows how important it was to him that the people embrace unity in Christ.

The problem the Galatians faced was that some Judaizers (a group of Jewish Christians who insisted on following the Mosaic Law, including circumcision for Gentile converts) were teaching that salvation required each person to fulfill the law. Paul clarifies that the law was only a tutor needed until Jesus (and faith) came; the law shouldn't be confused with salvation. Here's another way to look at it: the law is like a mirror—if you see yourself in the mirror and find yourself dirty, you don't scrub yourself clean with the mirror. The law was never meant to bring salvation, and no matter how hard we try to be perfect, we are not able to outside of the empowerment of the love of God.

The good news is that Jesus came, and through faith in Him, we are heirs of the promise made to the seed of Abraham, who was not Isaac but Jesus himself. In Him, we are saved, unified, and more importantly, we have the answer to our dilemma with sin and our inability to fulfill the heavy burden of the law. We are the children of promise! After all, Jesus is the author and the perfecter (or completer) of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2).

Question: Do you tend to relate to God more easily when you've been acting "good" than when you've recently messed up?

Prayer: Ask God to remind you that it is through faith that you can be in right standing with Him and others. Faith starts with Him and ends with Him. Ask Him to remind you that you are His child, regardless of your ability to do what is right.