Galatians 1-3 | How Will You Approach God Today?

There are only two ways to approach God. These are seen in the difference between biblical Christianity and every other religion.

Christianity stands alone. But every other religion—Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Animism, etc.—can be lumped in a single category. They all teach that you are made right with God by what you DO—by your own good works. Those who approach God this way are still depending upon themselves and their ability to justify themselves before God.

Christianity is the exact opposite. A true Christian has come to the realization that he cannot make himself right with God. That he is helpless and in need of a Savior. Now, stripped of his pride, he comes to Christ by faith alone. He dies to his own good works and the futile attempt to live up to the law. In fact, the law has been his "tutor" to show him his helplessness and lead him to Christ as his only hope.

Paul uses his own life as an illustration in Galatians, Chapter 2:

"For through (trying to observe) the Law I died to the Law (that futile way of living) so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God (this is the new way I approach God—not by my good works to justify me, but by trusting in Christ alone) who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (Galatians 2:19, the words in parenthesis are mine)

THE CONTINUING DILEMMA

But Satan and his emissaries want to stop the spread of Christ's kingdom. He seeks to do this in at least two ways.

1. He blinds the minds of the unbelieving, making them think that they must justify themselves by good works. He has millions of people in this bondage. They think they are right with God, but they are not, and all their good works are like filthy rags before a holy God.

2. He slows the spread of Christianity, by tempting true Christians who were saved purely by faith to revert back to their former way of thinking so that they will operate daily by self-justification. In this way, he puts these Christians back into a bondage that hinders them and keeps them from sharing the truth with others about the grace of God.

Look how he describes this approach which the Galatian Christians were falling prey to ...

"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (1:6-7)

He describes the false teachers who teach a works-based salvation and a works-based life as "false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage" (2:4). These men were "not straightforward about the truth of the gospel" and if not careful even good men (like Paul's friend Barnabas) can be "carried away by their hypocrisy" (2:13)

EVALUATE YOUR FAITH TODAY

The point is this: how are you approaching God today and how are you telling others they must approach God? If you still feel like you have to live up to some standard in order to be a recipient of God's grace, you have reverted to a false gospel. This is easy to do because we lived there for so very long.

How should I live today? Listen to Paul:

“The life which I now live ... I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (2:20)

Every moment of the common day you must remember that you are helpless, that you need Christ, that you cannot gain approval or please God by your works. You must turn to Christ and trust in Him, listening to Him and moving by His initiation. In so doing, the good works produced by Spirit will be produced through your life. And you will be able to tell everyone, "This is not me; it is Christ in me! I am merely presenting the members of my body to Him for His use. And I live to tell this glorious message that any man can be accepted and made right by trusting in Christ. You don't have to work in the energy of your vain flesh to gain God's approval. You must look always to Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith!”

Father, thank You for saving us purely by Your grace. We have come to see what You have done for us through Christ on the cross as our sure hope of salvation. And we have placed our faith in Him to make us right before You. Now, let us remember and continue to live daily in dependence on You for everything. We gladly give You our lives for Your use. Flow through us, dear Life-Giving Lord, like rivers of living water to help a needy world!