Thursday 16 Nov 2017

November 16: Galatians 2:15-18

Key Verse: Galatians 2:16
know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Devotion:
When we really do believe in Christ we are placing ourselves totally at the mercy of God's grace. Just like a mountain climber swinging at the end of his rope, trusting totally that it will save him from death, we too are to let go of the world and to swing free and see we can totally trust Christ. When we come to this realisation, we will know we are forever safe. Saved through Faith, by His grace. Not anything we have done, but what He has done. Not because we could believe strongly enough, but because His grace is sufficient. Not just because we were predestined, but because of our taking that step.

If we start to think it is because we have done anything or because of all the rules and commandments we have not broken, then we are making Christ's death to no effect! If we ever think we can take the place of Christ, then we have not realised just who He is. Imagine if a mountain climber believed they did not need the rope to swing under the overhang. What would happen when they finally tried to swing... If we think we can get to heaven by any other means other than through Christ, then we will suffer the same embarrassing defeat!

If we seek to be justified by Christ, then we ourselves admit we are sinners and cannot bypass the penalty for sin... death... (Romans 3:23) Does that make Christ the minister of sin? Certainly not! It is only through our realisation of sin we can identify what we have done wrong. It is only through His word we can identify we are sinners. It is only through His example that we know. He is the exact opposite of our sin! He is the example we need to aim for, not to be saved, but to show Him that we love and respect Him!

Points to Ponder:
Could you have survived without parents?

How can we think we can survive after this world if we are not saved?