Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+2.15-21
Scripture
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives but Christ lives in me.
Observation
Paul is a Jew by birth but he knows that it is faith in Christ, not the Law that makes him right with God. No one will ever be made right with God by obeying the Law.
Sin is not in following Christ but in seeking to rebuild the old system of Law. The Law condemns; Paul died to the Law and stopped trying to meet its demands.
His old self was crucified with Christ. He no longer lives but Christ lives in him.
Application
Many christians want to re-introduce various Old Testament laws and ordinances to make them super-christians, different and better than ordinary christians.
Paul makes it clear that the Law only brings condemnation and judgement. He should know as He was the Pharisee’s Pharisee, the champion of law-keeping.
There is nothing that we can add to grace to make God live us more. There is nothing we can do that will earn God’s favour. We already have it all through Christ our Lord.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for your deep and eternal love. I can do nothing to grow your love for me so I simply receive it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Poem – What is love?
Two men came to Jesus
With different motivations.
They asked Him the same question
Relevant to all the nations:
Which is the Most Important?
The answer was the same.
Jesus did not manipulate
He was not there to play a game.
“Love the Lord your God” said Jesus
as He quoted from The Law –
to fulfill and not abolish
was His purpose, full of awe.
Jesus did not make all Scripture
Into one new great commandment.
He summarized The Law and Prophets
“First and Greatest” and “The Second.”
The Love of God is higher
Than the love of any man.
Receive from God, give back to God-
Then to others, that’s His plan.
The Love of God involves much more
Than simply “love your fellow man.”
Worship, trust, and pray to God,
and obey Him – that’s His plan
To worship and pray to neighbors,
Whoever they may be,
Or trust and obey our enemies
Would be idolatry.
The love of God is first and greatest,
And the love of man is second.
“All we need is love” are words
of dead Beetles on the pavement.
“The entire law is summed up in a single command”
are not the words of Jesus our Salvation.
It’s false teaching of Paul the Pharisee
“an accuser of our brethren.”
“Love” without God is Satan’s word through Paul
in his chapter to the Corinthians.
“I will show you the most excellent way”
is the road to eternal perdition.
Where is God in Paul’s chapter on love?
Nowhere in view of the eye.
Paul sings about himself like a Mexican Mariachi
“I, I, I, I.”
Jesus is The Most Excellent Way
Not the words of a Pharisee.
The words of Jesus are very clear.
Jesus said, “You must follow ME.”
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