Standing Fast in Christ

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1)

Most people are afraid of God. They see him as a giant, all knowing, all seeing, executioner who will destroy us with fiery hailstone when we sin. And honestly, this is the image the old testament paints when we read about God.

We see a vengeful God set to destroy the wicked, but a peaceful loving God who cares for those who love him. But the most difficult part of the old testament is that God's peace and love were conditioned in many cases based on obedience and faithfulness: Those who want to live in God's good graces must live a perfect life according to the law of God.

And it's the law of God that Paul is really bringing into question in the letter to the Galatians. He tells us that to subject ourselves to the law of God is to put ourselves under a system of fear, death, bondage, and darkness. Fear because we are constantly terrified of God; death because it is our payment for any kind of transgression; bondage because we must follow the law 24/7 without fail; and darkness because we are missing the whole point of the old testament - Jesus Christ.

Paul's battle standard is Jesus Christ... and his war cry is, "Jesus is better than the law!"

He makes a big deal out of Jesus, and rightly so. Jesus Christ came not only to free us from sin but to fulfill the law. Jesus frees us from the fear, death, bondage, and darkness of the old covenant. Free from fear because the promise is no longer conditional - it is eternally guaranteed; free from death because it has no power over us - we are raised to new life in Christ; free from bondage because we do not need to be perfect - Christ is our perfection; and free from darkness because Christ is our light - his salvation has been clearly revealed.

So what if we being saved by grace through faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ, return to the law even in one little bit? Well, Paul answers that too:

"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law." (Galatians 5:2-3)

To return to the law, or subject ourselves unnecessarily to the law, is to deny Jesus Christ. We are saying with our actions that Jesus Christ is not good enough, he is not sufficient to save me, there is something else that I must do before God can love me. But this is simply not true.

It's not that God's law is evil, but rather, Jesus fulfilled the law with his life and death. The law is complete in him. The only acceptable approach to God is through Jesus Christ. If you return to any part of the law, not mater how small in part, you must completely reject Jesus Christ and fulfill the entirety of the law.

"Christ is become of no effect unto you , whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:4)

This is absurd! Why would we, who know Jesus and have experienced life, liberty, and light return to a system of death, bondage, and darkness? So stand fast in Christ! Be immovable in your faith! Never waiver from that salvation you have experienced and know in Christ alone!

But do not be confused. Christ does not make us lawless. But that is a matter for another discussion.

Sola Fide,

Jay Silvas