Faith or Works of the Law

Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses?  Of course not!

                                                                     Galatians 3:1-2 

You receive the Spirit because of your faith.

You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? 

                                                                                                    Galatians 3:2-3


Why are we trying to become "perfect" by our own effort?

After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain was it?
                       
                                                                        Galatians 3:3-4

We don't have to obey the Mosaic Law to be saved.

I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not!

                                                                       Galatians 3:5

Just believe.

It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.
In the same way, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. 
What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed the good news to Abraham so long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you." 

So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's book of the Law."  

No one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law.

So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the scriptures say, " It is through faith that a righteous person has life." This way of faith is very different from the way of the law, which says, "It is through obeying the law that a person has life."

                                                                        Galatians 3:5-12

And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is--free and undeserved.
                                                                        Romans 11:6

The greatest love story ever told was the man Christ Jesus who came and gave his life for you so that you might join him in paradise forever.

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

                                                                       Galatians 3:13-14

And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."

                                                                        Luke 23:43

How do you receive this Holy Spirit when you realize you believe? 

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
                                                                         Acts 2:38

Why then was the law given?
It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. (Jesus Christ)

                                                                        Galatians 3:19

We are all prisoners of sin, born into this world because of original sin. 

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
                                                                        Romans 5:12

If the law could give us new life, we could be made right by obeying it. But the Scriptures declare we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

                                                                        Galatians 3: 21-22

All glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ,

Sherry

I will be linking up with these parties:
Mommy Moments at Life of Faith- Sun evening
The Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims
Moments of Hope at Lori Schumaker
Monday's Musings at What Joy is Mine
Tuesday Talk with Sarah E. Frazer
Coffee and Conversation at Pat and Candy.com- Tues eve
Tell Us His Story at Jennifer Dukes Lee- Tues eve
Grace Moments at Journeys in Grace
Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3-D Lessons for Life
Grace and Truth at Above the Waves
Fresh Market Friday Crystal Twaddell
Faith and Friends at Counting My Blessings