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:!6b]
sometimes we believe more is more.
judiazers – those who believed you had to keep all the law and faith Christ for justification – believed more law, more works, more effort = more (justification. paul taught something very different. he believed that Jesus taught – less is more in the gospel.
what do you believe?
is it Christ alone, through faith in him alone, that equals justification.
or, is it more, and more, and more and more that equals justification.
remember – justification is God declaring us right with him. the truth stated all through the gospel is that we are not right with him.
for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. [romans 3:23]
justification is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. as we faith, trust, that the person and work of Christ alone makes us right with God so we can be with God – we are justified.
but God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved … for by grace you have been saved through faith. and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9]
we say Christ alone makes me right, but o how we work to find God’s approval.
we say Christ alone allows me to be with God, but oh how we often talk like our words give us access, or how we often live like our actions give us access.
we say Christ alone makes us just, righteous before God, but when we sin and feel unrighteous, o how we work to erase our sin instead of trusting, faithing, that it has been removed by Christ.
here are some questions to ponder today with the Lord?
- do i boast in the Lord’s grace often – in my obedience and in my struggles?
- Lord i believe, help my unbelief!
- do i boast in my efforts to the Lord when i am repenting of sin? do i try and let him see my efforts and sincerity to try and get forgiveness. or do i trust in Christ’s work alone for my forgiveness?
- Lord i believe, help my unbelief?
- do i hold other believers hostage when they hurt me – only giving forgiveness after they have suffered for a while? or, am i quick to offer forgiveness because i believe Jesus suffered enough for their sin already?
- Lord i believe, help my unbelief?
less is more in the gospel.
only because the less is Jesus alone!
and if Jesus is the less – we get more, and more, and more, and more, ….
~ john ryan