By Pastor Chris Oyakilome
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not
obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth,
crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by
the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having
begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3).
As you study the entire book of
Galatians, you’d understand why Paul made the statement above, chiding the
Galatian Christians: they had strayed from the message of the Gospel, the Word
of faith, which they had received. Some false teachers came, teaching them that
they had to obey the Law to be justified; as a result, their faith began to
waver. Decrying their deviation from the message of faith, Paul asked them,
"…having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"
He wanted them to remember how
they received the Holy Spirit; it wasn’t through obedience to the Law, but by
faith. The salvation they had received didn’t happen by keeping the Law:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians
2:8-9). Your righteousness and right-standing with God aren’t the results
of your good works; they’re by the faith of Christ, the result of what He did.
Galatians 2:16 says,
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified." The righteousness, which is
by faith, doesn’t rely on the works of the Law, but on faith in the God that
justifies the ungodly (Romans 4:5).
By faith, you received eternal
life, and the Holy Spirit to live in you. By faith, the righteousness of God
was imparted to your spirit. Therefore, continue in faith, grounded and
settled, and refuse to be moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which you’ve
heard (Colossians 1:23).
Confession
I thank you Lord for the
righteousness I’ve received; the righteousness which is by the faith of Jesus
Christ, to stand in your presence confidently without fear, inferiority, guilt
or condemnation. I have no confidence in the flesh because you are my
justifier. Halleluiah!
Further Study: John
6:63; Philippians 3:3
1 Year Bible Reading Plan : 1
Corinthians 5 Psalms 117-118
2 Year Bible Reading Plan:
Colossians 1:1-8 Jeremiah 5
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