NOTHING LIKE IT
Have you ever found yourself trying to live in God’s ways only to find yourself falling short and, therefore, living with guilt, shame, and a sense of failure? In the book of Galatians, apostle Paul addresses the Galatian church which was trying to pursue the life of God through human effort. Like the church at Galatia, many times, we have misdirected zeal and are trying to accomplish through human effort what God has already done. Check this Scripture out.
Galatians 3:1-5 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
The power and purpose of God are not accessed through human effort but rather by faith. As the previous scripture declares, the lack of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and miracles in the body of Christ today is evidence of the church still living by works and not by faith. Consider what Apostle Paul said to the church in Rome.
Romans 10:4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
Christianity is the only religion of the world that does not base its “better hereafter” on a person doing enough good works to deserve it. According to the word of God, the only way to be made right with God and receive his eternal life is to believe! No personal effort or works of the flesh will ever accomplish the righteousness God requires! Only surrendering to and sincerely believing the good news of Christ gives you right standing with God! Faith alone gives you the power to live in the new nature that is free from the law and that abounds in God’s righteous ways! Living in the new nature is living free from the law through the power of God’s new covenant of love. The closer we get to God, the more we live in his unfailing love. This gives us the power to fulfill all the commandments, walking in God’s righteousness!
John 2:10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
Romans 13:8-10 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
Trying to accomplish what God has already accomplished is not only fruitless but makes us fail in every way. On the other hand, fully receiving the love of God empowers us to live in the amazing life of God! I promise you, there is…
NOTHING LIKE IT
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