We often speak of the Christian life beginning with a confession of faith. But ever so subtly we move from trusting God to trusting ourselves with respect to our personal sanctification.
Paul asks the Galatians in 3:2, “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” The answer is obvious: the Spirit was given to them because they believed the gospel, not because they had earned God’s favor. We would all readily agree that we are justified—declared righteous before God—not because of what we have done, but because we trust in what Christ has done for us.
But justification by faith is not merely the doorway into the Christian life; it is the established pathway for the rest of our Christian walk. The same gospel that saves us is the same gospel by which we continue to live. We do not begin by depending on Christ and then mature by depending on ourselves. Rather, we continue to look to Christ, trusting that His righteousness is sufficient and that His Spirit is at work in us. Our growth in holiness is therefore not a project of self-salvation, but the fruit of God’s gracious work in those who belong to Christ.
This should give us both humility and confidence. We have no reason to boast in our progress since our ability to grow comes from God’s Spirit. Yet we also have no reason to despair when we see our weakness since our hope rests not in the strength of our work but in the faithfulness of God. So today, resist the temptation to live as though everything depends on you. Rest in Christ, walk by faith, and depend upon the Spirit who has already begun His work in you. –Pastor Nate
Sunday at Liberty
9AM: BTH–Cyril of Alexandria–John 1:14
10AM: Pastor Nate–No Other Blessing but Faith–Galatians 3:1-9 (sermon notes)
6PM: Prayer Meeting at the Wagners’
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