Msg #1719 Not by Law, Works, or Penance

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Galatians is the first epistle written to the Gentiles. The Gospel of Christ is to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, and so is the New Testament. The first of the Gospel records, Matthew is aimed to the Jews, the first of the epistles, James, is aimed to the Jews. The second epistle written was Galatians, and it deals with the line between Judaism and Christianity, i.e. law vs. grace. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, ... for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal 2:16). Ecumenical bibles make this faith “in” Christ, but God's word says it is the faith “of” Christ that saves. Salvation is through faith, that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2). It is not our faith, nor our will. “Not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13) Judaism, like all religions, had risen to the ultimate “we can do it our self” attitude. Their righteousness, attained by keeping the law, was man made righteousness, rebuked as hypocritical by Jesus Christ our Lord. “For by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified.” Defiled religions weigh the works of man, or the penance of man. True repentance requires that one see his helpless estate and call on, trust in, and believe in Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?” False teachers, false priests, and mislead clergy, are still bewitching. Miraculously, “God sent forth his Son to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal 4:4-5).

An Essay for week #19 May 7, 2017

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