Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 3Sample

Paul is encouraging us, in this chapter, to have Christ in clear focus in front of us. To trust in Him and not the law (which can symbolize our works/efforts).

Consider how Paul invites the Galatians, through questions, to realize how foolish they have been in trying to earn their salvation through their own efforts. Listen to this:

“How did your new life in Christ begin? Was it by your own efforts? Or was it by responding to God’s message in Christ?” (my paraphrase, v. 2). Paul asks again, “if you couldn’t begin what God accomplished in Christ, how can you think you are now able to perfect it through your own works (excluding Christ)? (my paraphrase, vv. 3-4).

Paul then asks them to consider how God has so graciously lavished them with His Holy Spirit to strengthen and enable them to do things they could never do themselves. He then asks: “would God do all this just for us to end up in stive, self-efforts, and performance? (my paraphrase, vv. 5-6).

You may be reading this and thinking: “But I am not placing myself under the Jewish law”. But maybe you are working for something that Christ already did.

We cannot sustain this type of relationship with God that is based on our efforts and performance. “Rule-keeping” does not evolve into faith; it only leads to more rules that need to be kept.

It is only by faith! We need to understand that “God saved you by His grace (something only Christ could do) through faith (our response to what Christ has done), and this is not from yourself (by your own efforts/works); it is the gift of God (a love gift from God) …” (Eph 2:8, emphasis mine).

As you read this chapter, I invite you to,

1. Prayerfully reflect upon where you possibly “began in Christ” but now find yourself in performance (trying to earn what Christ already accomplished).

2. Then, ask Holy Spirit to illuminate the truth so that you can be set free from works and performances that bind you (John 8:32).