Hello people. It’s my great pleasure to bring you another piece. In this post we will conclude our considerations of Galatians chapter 2:
‘I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain’ Galatians 2:21
Paul made this statement with reference to the behavior put up by Peter and the other Jews (remember when we talked about the power of influence). Their actions had seemed to suggest that righteousness could have been obtained by strict observation of rules and regulations. So Paul makes a very thought provoking statement: if righteousness could have been obtained by the law, then Christ’s death was needless.
I need you to pause a little and think a bit over the statement. The implications of that singular verse of scripture are immense.
A lot of Christians have not been properly exposed to extensive teaching on the efficacy of the death of Jesus Christ or the adequacy of the grace of God that is now available in Him. As a result, a good number of folks still act as if the death of Jesus is not adequate by making attempts to obtain by their own efforts the same things He achieved by dying for you and for me. How sad.
God’s message rings out very clear through the penmanship of Paul: what He sent Jesus to do couldn’t have been achieved by any human effort. If our own efforts could have made us obtain the gifts of His grace, then all that Christ did was a waste. Jesus would not have needed to do all He did if there were any other means to bring us all the benefits of God’s grace.
The maker of the heavens and the earth, the very God of eternity took the form of His own creation, came to a world He had made and then suffered at the hands of the people He had come to save, His own creatures. The Prince of life laid down His life and tasted death as a substitute for men. He was despised and rejected, mocked and spat on. Scourged by vicious Roman soldiers, spurned by His own people. The people who had wanted to make Him their King after witnessing His amazing miracles publicly rejected Him before Pilate and instead demanded for the release of a notorious criminal. He was executed in the most gruesome way imaginable-crucified on a cross, taunted by the people, a crown of thorns on His head, pierced in His side. This was the price He paid to give us freely all that we now richly enjoy in God.
Personally I join up with Paul and true believers everywhere. I do not treat God’s gracious gift as something of minor importance. Permit to include 2 other translations of Galatians 2:21:
“I do not spurn the grace of God. For if righteousness is by means of the law, the Messiah died in vain.” Murdock Translation.
“I refuse to reject the grace of God. But if a person is put right with God through the Law, it means that Christ died for nothing!” Good News Bible
Christ didn’t die for nothing. He died to usher in a new epoch of grace. Think about this and let it sink deep into your heart. Refuse to reject the grace of God and instead learn to bask in the euphoria of His ever abiding grace.
This week my pick is Phil Wickham’s “Because of Your love”. Remember these are just snapshots of God’s overwhelming grace. Have a lovely week.
No comments:
Post a Comment