Perfected by the Flesh?
It is very important for us to grasp the truths of the book of Galatians. The people there had been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. They had received the Holy Spirit, and they were growing in the Lord. Then, a group of teachers came with false doctrine. They persuaded them that they had to keep all of the law to really be a believer and to grow in the Lord. They were totally wrong! Paul had to write the letter to them to rebuke them and to explain why that doctrine was false. He was showing them that to receive the Spirit by faith and to try to be perfected in the faith by the flesh was foolish. (Galatians 3:2,3) This may be just what you are trying to do, too, so we need to apply this truth in our lives today.
We do not get saved or grow in the Lord by doing works of the law in the power of the flesh. We are saved by grace through faith, when we turn from our sins, put our trust in Christ who died and arose for us, and surrender to Him as Lord of our lives. That is all done by faith, once we hear the gospel. Then, we are to continue in our relationship with Christ, guided by the Spirit, Whom we received at salvation. What we do, we do as a response of faith to what the Word of God says and what the Spirit shows us. Then, we do it in the power of the Spirit, not in our flesh. I hope that is plain.
In other words, we do not grow in Christ by being good and keeping rules. It doesn't even happen by simply going to church or reading the Bible. We grow when we pray in faith, and listen to the Spirit as we read the Word. Then, we obey in faith. If we are walking in the Spirit by faith, we will mature in the Lord. Doing good works in the flesh can never accomplish that growth. We do not decide what to do on our own. We follow the direction of the Lord and depend of His Spirit to empower us and grow us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Galatians 4-6.
We do not get saved or grow in the Lord by doing works of the law in the power of the flesh. We are saved by grace through faith, when we turn from our sins, put our trust in Christ who died and arose for us, and surrender to Him as Lord of our lives. That is all done by faith, once we hear the gospel. Then, we are to continue in our relationship with Christ, guided by the Spirit, Whom we received at salvation. What we do, we do as a response of faith to what the Word of God says and what the Spirit shows us. Then, we do it in the power of the Spirit, not in our flesh. I hope that is plain.
In other words, we do not grow in Christ by being good and keeping rules. It doesn't even happen by simply going to church or reading the Bible. We grow when we pray in faith, and listen to the Spirit as we read the Word. Then, we obey in faith. If we are walking in the Spirit by faith, we will mature in the Lord. Doing good works in the flesh can never accomplish that growth. We do not decide what to do on our own. We follow the direction of the Lord and depend of His Spirit to empower us and grow us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Galatians 4-6.