Galatians 3:2,3
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?
Paul can't emphasize this enough, saved by faith not by works! We know that the Spirit is given as a seal or down deposit to all who are saved by grace through faith in Christ. I love how he puts it here; he is basically saying, were you saved and given this Spirit once you did enough good things or by the grace given through faith in Christ? He simplifies it for people like me, who for a while struggled with trying to earn the Lord's love or approval. I would think that if I didn't walk in a legalistic type of way that the Lord would take His hand from upon me. What a heavy and sad way to live, a life of self-imposed bondage!
Christ had set me free, but Stephen had put different chains on! But God! Thankfully, He is patient, loving, and kind, willing to walk through these self-imposed dungeons we might find ourselves in. The freedom came at the end of a hard fall. I had fallen hard, and during my time of repentance, I was pleading with Him not to take His Presence away from me. When all of a sudden, He came rushing in and swooped me into His loving arms, and I began to learn that His love isn't based on me but on Him! He is still teaching me to this day, but trust me, living under grace is a lot more fun, freeing, and fulfilling than living under the oppression of works-based love! Works don't bring salvation, but salvation brings works!
Galatians 2:16- Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law."
God bless! I love you all through Him! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!
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