Faith without religion.
Faith, Law, and Justification in Galatians
In a recent teaching, we delved into the complexities of faith, law, and justification as outlined by Paul in his epistle to the Galatians. The discussion began with the ongoing struggle against the influence of Judaizers, who sought to impose the Law as a means of justification, a battle that has persisted since the time of Jesus and continues today.
The teaching highlighted the temptation to revert to legalism, as seen in the experiences of friends who, after leaving Mormonism, found the freedom of the Gospel overwhelming and returned to the law. This tendency underscores a common human inclination to seek justification through compliance with rules, rather than embracing the liberty offered by faith in Christ.
Paul’s confrontation with Peter in Galatians 2:14-21 serves as a pivotal moment, emphasizing that justification comes not through the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. This message challenges the notion that adherence to the law can lead to righteousness, asserting instead that the law only reveals sin and cannot justify anyone before God.
The teaching further explored the idea that true Christians, guided by the Spirit, inherently desire to please God, making legalistic sermons unnecessary. It likened this to vegetarians who naturally choose not to eat meat, illustrating that Christians, transformed by faith, naturally seek to live in accordance with God’s will.
Paul’s message is clear: the law cannot justify, and returning to it only makes one a transgressor. Instead, believers are called to live by faith, dead to the law, and alive to God through Christ. This transformative faith liberates from the law of sin and death, allowing believers to live in the freedom and grace of the Gospel.
In conclusion, the teaching invites reflection on the profound truth that righteousness cannot come by the law, for if it could, Christ’s sacrifice would be in vain. Instead, it is through faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us, that we find true justification and life.
