The Letter or the Spirit?
In Galatians 2 we see how the Apostle Paul confronts the Apostle Peter on an issue that we deal with in the church to this day. You see Peter was living in the grace of God and not by the letter of the law. He was living without strict observance of the Jewish traditional ordinances that were set in the Old Covenant prior to Christ. Yet, he was urging Jews and gentiles to live according to the letter of the law, and when Peter came to Antioch where the Apostle Paul was he was given some correction!
Why did the Apostle Paul think this wasn’t right? Isn’t it ok to follow the laws of old time; the traditions of our religion?
Have you ever tried to keep the 10 commandments? Impossible! Now, if your position with God is dependent on keeping the 10 commandments then neither you nor I will ever be in a position to see God when we take our last breath.
God doesn’t care about religion or traditions. God doesn’t save us from hell by tallying up our good deeds or how well we keep to the letter of the law (although that’s a by-product of loving God).
Paul was simply telling Peter that he was focused on the wrong thing. We’re not saved by works but by grace. Paul said in Ephesians 2:8, 9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” We need to be mindful of the fact that “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2Cor. 3:6) The law of the letter let’s us know that we fall short of being self-righteous and are in desperate need of a Savior!
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
We are our own worst critics and if we allow ourselves to, we will condemn ourselves to the point that we are immovable in our walks with Jesus and His coming and dying for us was for nothing.
Today, I pray that you are reminded all day to walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Give God all the credit for saving you through His Son Jesus!
“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” – Galatians 2:21
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