Our scripture this morning is Galatians 2:19-21.
For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
True faith is different than the human process of “keeping the Law”. Paul writes “if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” This leads to the concept of “works salvation” – if we do this, we can be saved. This is a lie: ONLY God’s grace can save us!
The invitation to die to the Law is actually an invitation to live for God. We read that “my old self has been crucified with Christ”, an example of how our lives change when we accept what Jesus has done for us. Author Ian Parkinson says “anything that prevents the thriving of creation will be overcome”, displaying the power of the Lord working in us.
It’s not just waiting for God to act, He already has! Our lives are a response to God’s grace, not an action to earn it. Jesus came to show us that we are part of His plan, we have been gifted and tasked to work for His kingdom.
Loving Lord, we are sometimes trapped by the way we live, thinking we are pleasing You when we are really only living for ourselves. Help us to die to self and live for You, sharing Your love with all the world. Amen.
