For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” — Galatians 3:10
so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. — Galatians 3:14
A lot of people get all worked up about the debate between faith and works. There really isn't all that much to get all worked up about.
Paul is very clear in this text that the bar of moral rightness, or moral work, is set very high. That God set the standard. His standard was the Moral Law (a.k.a. The Ten Commandments). And his standard requires obedience to not just one of the laws, but all of them to perfection. If we cannot keep them perfectly, then our work is insufficient, and we're cursed by them. And we can attempt moral perfection, but we'll only discover that we'll never be able to measure up. And if we don't measure up, then we are not blessed. We are cursed. That's the bad news.
But there is some good news. There was one, only one, who was obedient. He was perfectly obedient. He did what we could not do. He was moral perfection. His name was Jesus. And he lifted this curse with his perfect moral work. He even endured the shame and curse of the Cross. And in the Cross, he took on our curse while mutually lifting the curse of moral impossibility for all men.
But it gets better. Because you see, in the work that Jesus did, he left believers with a blessing. A blessing for "all nations" — that's everyone. A blessing promised way back in the time of Abraham to Abraham — the Holy Spirit. And this Spirit works in a believer. Did you catch that? He "works" in a believer. Therefore we live directed by faith in Jesus's work and empowered by a Spirit he gave us who does good work both in and through us.
So all we have to do is live by faith. Faith in the work Jesus has done. Faith in the work the Spirit is doing within us. And by this faith, God works through us. And in this, we are blessed. It makes you wonder how much good work we can add to all the work the Father, Son, and Spirit have already done, doesn't it?
ASK THIS: Is there a good work you trust more than the work Jesus has already done?
DO THIS: Don't let your good works motivate you. It will only puff you up. Have faith in him, and let him work through you.
PRAY THIS: God, I trust in your work as it is my own. Only you save and there is no good deed I will ever do that will suffice. Even on my best day, my moral goodness is not enough. May you Spirit convict me and work through me to point others to your good work.
PLAY THIS: Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me.
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