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.” [galatians 3:10-12]
a pastor that i sometimes listen to recently said, “even many christians believe that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell.” those in the church, who have believed the gospel, still have the idea that it is good people who will pass through those pearly gates.
this is not the essence of the gospel! this passage says that it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law. this means that those who choose to remain under the law, those who reject the sufficiency of the blood of Christ to forgive sins, who still strive to clear their conscience by doing enough good to outweigh the bad, or even those who think they pretty much do follow the law because it’s not that hard… are not justified. no one is justified before God by the law. no one is justified before God by their own goodness. no one is justified before God by their deeds.
the reality is that good people do, in fact, go to heaven. but the further reality is that there are no good people. we have already learned that…
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside;
together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.” [romans 3:11-12]
Jesus himself said that no one is good but God alone. [luke 18:19] that’s why the truth of Christ coming to earth, God in human flesh, is so unimaginably miraculous. Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us, came to keep the entire law, to fulfill the law, and thus became the means by which we can be justified before the Father. by faith in Jesus Christ, we are made right before a holy God.
this is great news for helpless sinners. this is great news for you and me. thanksgiving day has come and gone, but may we never cease giving thanks every single day for the glorious grace we have been generously given through the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ! to him be the glory forever and ever! amen!
~arwen eastman