Jnnnganga daily meditations 10-16th April 2011 , a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ
Day 1
Galatians 2:16
yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 2:21
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
It is good to know that we are justified not by what we do but by what Christ did. So all you need to do for you to be at peace with God is to accept your sin and then claim the forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Of course some of us are more righteous than others but when it comes to citizenship of heaven the requirement is simply accepting the work accomplished by Christ’s blood
Day 2
Galatians 3:2
Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Galatians 3:5
Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith-
Forgives at the point we get saved is sweet but even more important is the walk in the sprit between the point of salvation and when we meet Jesus in heaven .Since the sprit is the midwife into salvation he also continues to help us in the walk of faith.
Even in this it is the daily entrusting of our life to God that enables us the spiritual walk .Faith comes by hearing and hence we shall need to hear God’s word on daily basis if we want to walk in the sprit
Day 3
Galatians 3:10-13
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall 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 hanged on a tree"-
If we want a life of blessing instead our life of curse then we must accept that Jesus has become our curse by hanging on the cross. Thus once we trust his work at Calvary, we are no longer children of wrath and curse but children of blessing.
The danger of trusting our works is that we can never be good enough for the standard God has set. He is perfect and requires perfection which his son achieved while here on earth. He therefore did not die for any sin he had committed but for ours.
Day 4
Galatians 3:19
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.
Galatians 3:23-24
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 5:3-4
I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
The law had a duty before Christ came of pointing to our desperate need of a savior. The law tells you what to do but by its very nature it makes you know guilt since you do not end up fulfilling it.
You therefore need to only rely on the cross. Yet we are tempted to feel proud of our works . Once you trust your works then you are inviting God to hold you to fulfilling his standards’ which you won’t.
It is better to accept your inability and seek Gods help to keep his standards. You should not require either you or others to fulfill the legal requirements in order for them to be saved.
Day 5
Galatians 5:18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Not being under the law does not mean you do not keep the law. It means the sprit helps you keep the law as he leads you. One has the choice of either leading himself or surrendering the throne of your heart to Christ. When you surrender the throne the sprit will help you keep the law of Christ
The law of Christ is the rule of love . You love the lord so much you want to live a life that pleases him. You feel he loves you so much you can release yourself to his control since only the best will happen to you despite ceding control to him.
Day 6
Ephes. 2:15
…by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace.
Philip. 3:9
…not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-
The new testament believer lives the righteousness from God that depends on faith rather than works. You entrust all to him and in the process live to please him. This way you live a life of holiness yet it is out of faith rather than works.
Thus we are not those who live by dos and don’ts but of those who plead God’s mercy on a day by day basis. He gives enough grace for each day as he makes us aware that we can only fail as we disconnect from his power. We are new people who live by faith .
Day 7
Hebrews 10:1
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
The law was useful but for just a while since it was a precursor of the real life of the sprit that was facilitated by Jesus coming. The bible calls it a shadow of the real spiritual life. It would then be wrong to want to follow the shadow when we can live the real thing.
The old testament saints needed repeated sacrifices to please God but we do not need to give any sacrifice since Christ sacrifice on the cross was adequate for all time. We therefore must avoid asking Christians to produce anything to please God . He is already happy with us once we plead the blood of Jesus.
Jnnnganga daily meditations 10-16th April 2011 , a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ