+DEV+ Liberty in Christ Jesus

Date: May 24, 2011 12:37 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Liberty in Christ Jesus

Liberty in Christ Jesus

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened against a yoke of slavery." (GALATIANS 5:1)
Scripture Focus: Galatians 2:1-10

Solomon said, "There is nothing new under the sun." Today, we still fight the battles that Paul fought in the first century. One of those is legalism, the notion that in order for us to either gain or maintain God's favor, we have to keep particular rules. In Paul's ministry, it was largely Jewish law.

The Galatian believers accepted that one could come to faith and be a member of God's household, but in order to maintain God's favor, they insisted that perfect obedience was required. Paul's response was strong. "We did not give in to them [the teachers of legalism] for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you" (Galatians 2:5).

The truth of the gospel is that our relationship with God is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. We can do nothing to bolster our relationship with Him. We have liberty from legalism in Christ. His favor rests on us even in our imperfections and flaws. There is no condemnation for those like you and me who are in Christ Jesus.

Insight: The liberty of grace prompts overflowing gratitude to God for His salvation that transforms our lives from the inside out.

"Let us not forget to pray for those in Joplin Missouri"