Galatians 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

March 9th, 2010 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Paul says it several different ways but the message is the same that law and grace cannot live together as principles for our life. This whole letter to the Galatians has been called the letter of liberty because it hammers that issue home over and over. Our true freedom in found in our love relationship with Jesus Christ. If love is the motivation then people will respond from the heart and then the actions will follow because of the heart change. Love always moves people to do more than guilt ever can. One tragedy of legalism is that it gives the appearance of spiritual maturity but we find that both the motive and the method are wrong. The underlying motive of legalism is usually to look good to others watching. The method of legalism is to focus on the external appearance instead of the heart. There are still many folks who think that being a Christian is merely about going to church, being baptized, trying to be a good person. Pastor H. A. Ironside wrote a great illustration about legalism vs. grace. In one meeting he was in the audience when a new convert gave his testimony during the service. With a smile on his face and joy in his heart, the man related how he had been delivered from a life of sin. He gave God all the credit, saying nothing about any of his own merits or what he had done to deserve the blessings of redemption. The person in charge, who was legalistic, didn’t fully appreciate the reality of salvation by grace through faith alone, apart from human works. So he responded to the man’s comments by saying, “You seem to indicate that God did everything when he saved you. Didn’t you do your part before God did his?” The new believer jumped to his feet and said, “Oh, yes, I did. For more than 30 years I ran away from God as fast as my sins could carry me. That was my part. But God took out after me and ran me down. That was His part.” That is what the Apostle Paul wants them and us to grasp about our redemptions that Jesus has given us. “LORD, please give us the strength and opportunity to tell others of Your Love today.”