May the mumbling commence!
Faith has preeminence over observation of the Law. Faith transcends the Law, because Faith preceded the Law. We are made adopted children of God through faith in the grace of the Lord – not by perfect obedience to the Law. Outside of Jesus Christ, there is no perfect obedience to the Law. For this reason, Jesus died that we may live.
Read from Galatians chapter three:
Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Verses 7-14)
Stand up and be counted, all you people of faith. What or who do we have faith in? We have faith in our living Lord. We have faith in His promise and gift of salvation. We have faith that God can accomplish what He has promised. We have faith in God’s righteousness, justice and mercy. In God, all three can exist side-by-side. All three are elements in love.
Thank you, Jesus, for becoming a curse for us. Even though Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to God, Jesus took the punishment for our sins – death. And Jesus overcame death – thanks be to God!
By faith, we are Abraham’s children. We are included in the promise of blessings. And amidst those blessings is the adoption as children of God.
What is the Law good for then? The Law makes us aware of our sin and our need for salvation. The Law defines perfect obedience to the Lord. The Law points us to Christ Jesus, the fulfillment of the Law.
Let us accept this gift of grace from the Lord through faith in the work of Jesus Christ. Let us welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives. Let us follow the lead of the Spirit and become new creations. But let us not confuse this response to the gift of God with the means of our salvation.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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