Most of us were taught as children that if we followed all the rules set before us and worked hard to fulfill the world’s requirements, we would be accepted. There’s nothing wrong with doing good things, but taking it to the extreme enslaves us to endless self-effort. Under the Law of Moses, perfect performance was required; thankfully, Jesus came and changed the requirements. Under grace, we’re no longer bound by the expectation that we must do everything right for God to accept us.

Our faith in the finished works of Jesus, not in our own works, makes us righteous. During His ministry, Jesus told the Jews who believed in Him that if they continued in His Word, they would know the truth, and the truth would make them free. Because of His death and resurrection, the liberating power now available to us isn’t found in the Bible in general, but specifically in the Gospel of Grace. Paul told the Galatians that the gospel he preached was not of man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Under the law, the people had to do good to get good; the concept of receiving unearned, unmerited favor was unheard of. The law wasn’t given to make us righteous, but to condemn us, make us feel guilty, and point us to Jesus. It was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we’re no longer under a schoolmaster.

The Holy Spirit is available to administer the new covenant of grace and continually remind us of God’s love. Eye hasn’t seen, nor ear heard, the things that God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed them to us by His Spirit. The freedom we enjoy while living under grace is something that people who choose to live under the law can never experience.

Prayer:

Lord, because of our inability to make ourselves righteous under the law, You replaced it with grace. We now no longer have to constantly struggle to be in right-standing with You; we simply believe in Jesus and in what He did. Thank you for sending us Your only Son. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

John 8:31, 32

Galatians 1:11, 12

Galatians 3:24, 25

1 Corinthians 2:9, 10