You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4
Rules and regulations can be found everywhere one goes from the smallest organization to the largest nation on the earth. Obeying the laws keeps one from getting into trouble with those who made the laws. The purpose of laws is to keep unity, peace and safety among all the people. Although obeying laws can keep people safe, they cannot change the heart or what was done in the past. They do not fix anything.
As Paul is speaking about the freedom believers have, he tells the people of Galatia that if those who attempt to be made right by obeying the law of God are estranged or separated from God because they have fallen from grace.
Obeying laws helps keep a person from doing what is wrong. They can assist in keeping the person on the straight and narrow pathways of doing what is right.
There are people who are very strict rule followers. They do not allow any deviation at all from what the rules are and are quick to point out any infractions.
Inside the church there are also many who are die-hard rule followers. Some do it to want to look good to others, while others are doing it to look good to God. As one begins to do it to look good to God, that person is doing it to be justified so that God can remove the sin and can be saved. This is ignoring what Jesus did on the cross.
When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for sin. Salvation is given for free with repentance and acceptance of it. The moment one begins to obey the law to look good, it is rejecting what Jesus did.
It may be that you desire to look good to God. It can be easy to begin to focus on what you are doing right or wrong so that God will love you and save you. Do not allow yourself to fall into this trap and be separated from Christ. Do not try to earn your salvation by obeying God.
Put your trust in what Jesus did for you on the cross. He completed what was needed to forgive you of your sins and give you life. Obey God’s commands out of love for what He did, not to save you.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what Jesus did for you on the cross; that God will reveal areas you are becoming separated from Christ; and that you will walk in the grace God has given you in Christ Jesus.
Photo by Damian Patkowski on Unsplash
Leave a Reply