so then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. but now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, [galatians 3:24]
the law was given – so we could be justified by faith IN JESUS.
the law was given to watch over and have authority over us. this was the purpose of a guardian given by a father to watch over a young son. the law was given to watch over, have authority over – but also then to point us to our great need for Jesus.
great need for Jesus – the law shows that God is righteous and we are not.
great need for Jesus – the law shows that we must be righteous to be with God.
great need for Jesus – the law shows that our lack of righteousness is rebellion and must be punished.
great need for Jesus – the law shows that we need to be rescued – we need a righteous one to take our place of punishment so that we can be with God.
for Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, [1 peter 3:18]
the laws shows your great need for Jesus – have you trusted Jesus Christ, his person and work to make you righteous? have you trust Jesus to make you righteous – so you can be with God? you must be righteous to be with God. oh, please trust Jesus with your soul – now.
your work, your effort, your good intentions, your keeping of the law – cannot make you righteous. have you faithed Jesus alone? trust your soul to his rescuing work! he longs to be with you. and deep in your soul, you long to be with him. that is why he made you!
one last statement and question.
follower of Christ who has trusted your soul to Jesus for your righteousness – do you see your great need for Jesus today?
for i am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the jew first and also to the greek. for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “the righteous shall live by faith.” [romans 1:16-17]
we need Jesus to be right with God so we can be with God. it is faith IN JESUS that makes us righteous! but notice verse 17 of romans 3: “the righteous shall life by faith.” that declares how we will know eternal life – but it also declares how we live day to day as righteous before God – by faith IN JESUS.
when you and i forget where our righteousness comes from, we forget our great need for Jesus. when we forget, pride subtly grows in our obedience and despair looms in our disobedience. we, who had a great need for Jesus, before rescue, now have just a little need for Jesus.
you and i, IN JESUS, still have a great need for Jesus!
we need him …
to forgive those who have hurt us,
to pursue the unlovely,
to serve the undeserving,
to give generously,
to hope in the darkness,
to speak truth in love to injustice,
to enjoy God’s presence,
to believe Jesus alone is our righteousness daily,
to inhale our next breath – and so much more.
where do you see your great need for Jesus today?
God has called you to live by faith IN JESUS. how, where – will you do that today?
~ john ryan