Study 2 –A Different Gospel

Most of us have been taught from the early days of our Christian life that prayer, Bible study, fellowship and evangelism are what you ought to do if you want to be right with God. We assume, therefore, that once we have received salvation as a free gift, we then reign in life by working hard at these 'rules'.

Sadly rules do not liberate, they imprison. We follow them for a while, then we get behind, fall into condemnation and eventually end up in defeat. Periodically we do escape into an excellent conference or worship time. But the liberty we feel then is short-lived, a far cry from the daily reality when we're 'never quite making it'.

Have you ever wondered whether 'striving to please God', is the way to reign in life? 'Well,' you might say, 'how else can we reign?'

The Galatians thought that they could 'reign in life' by keeping various rules. Having received salvation as a gift they were now trying to please God 'by human effort' (Gal. 3:3).

They were 'observing special days and months and seasons and years' (Gal. 4:10). Other believers may have been impressed by these self-imposed rituals.

Paul was horrified. 'You foolish Galatians!' he rebuked them (Gal. 3:1). He realised that they were putting themselves back under law (Gal. 4:21).

Others may have argued, 'They're just developing a slightly different emphasis.' Paul said, 'You are turning to a different gospel!' (Gal. 1:6).

We may not realise it, but like the Galatians, many of us have turned to a 'different gospel'. Quite rightly we receive salvation as a free gift. Quite wrongly we try to reign in life by working hard at various rules.

If Paul were here, he would gaze at us in disbelief and cry, 'You foolish Christians! Don't you realise that reigning in life has nothing whatever to do with your accomplishments? It's about what Christ has already accomplished for you. It concerns not what you do but what you receive. You reign in life when you "receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness"' (Rom. 5:17).

Grasp this truth and it will totally liberate you!

To Meditate On

JESUS WANTS YOU NOT JUST TO BE SAVED BY GRACE BUT TO CONTINUE IN IT

'Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace' (Heb. 13:9).

'Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand' (Rom. 5:1, 2).

To Consider

READ GALATIANS 4:9.

What did Paul call the rules that the Galatians were observing?

What did he say these rules would do?

To Answer

Paul once put all his confidence in the flesh. How did he view his 'faultless legalistic righteousness' after he had become a Christian'
(Phil. 3:6-8)?

Food For Thought

READ through GALATIANS 3:1-14.

ASK God to make the truth in the passage clear to you.

Paul wrote to Timothy, 'be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus' (2 Tim. 2:1). Strength doesn't come from gritting your teeth and willing yourself to be strong. It comes by drawing from Christ's inward strength. Think about this.

Be Inspired

Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

JOHN NEWTON
'Amazing Grace'

Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? (Gal. 3:5)