Halle-lu-YOU

You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4

The doctrine of legalism does not justify. Anyone who would add the word ‘and’ to the sentence, “Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ, ” is essentially saying that Christ’s work on the cross was insufficient. They are in fact declaring, “I must finish the work Jesus began so that I might be saved.”

Halle-lu-YOU

If that were the case; that is, if you were able to achieve righteousness by your own effort, then of what use is the cross? We might as well toss out our hallelujahs (praises to God) and begin shouting, “Hallelu-US, ” instead. That of course would be ridiculous. Paul would say of this selfish doctrine…

This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.

I suspect that a little legalism creeps into every Christian’s life. Initially, our motives ‘might’ be pure, after all, we do not want that anyone should perish, but like yeast, that little bit tends to grow and spoil the entire batch. By allowing just a smidgeon, whether we admit to it or not, we are really saying we don’t trust the Father. Let us not give in to the desire to impose rules, regulations, and rituals on ourselves or others.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Galatians 5:9

And finally

My ‘issue’ for the week has largely been our freedom in Christ, or more specifically the law of liberty. The bottom line is that we don’t have to do anything, but we sure do get to do a whole lot. And with that consideration, no one is required to help a child living in abject poverty, but what a blessing it is that we get to do such a thing in the name of Jesus Christ.


COMPASSION dave