Make It Right

"You and I are Jews by birth, not mere Gentile sinners, and yet we Jewish Christians know very well that we cannot become right with God by obeying our Jewish laws but only by faith in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And so we, too, have trusted Jesus Christ, that we might be accepted by God because of faith—and not because we have obeyed the Jewish laws. For no one will ever be saved by obeying them."  Galatians 2:15–16

We hear folks say it every day: “If I just do enough good, then God will let me into heaven.” But that’s not the way it works.

In Matthew 7:22–23, Jesus said, “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” 

The passage of Scripture above in Galatians tells us that no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.  So how do we reconcile the two passages?  It’s really very simple.  Our obedience to God is the result of, the evidence of, and the proof of our faith in Jesus.

In Matthew 3:8, Jesus tells us, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”  Our faith makes us want to obey God. It steers us toward Him, like a moth to a flame.

“And it is impossible to please God without faith.  Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

“For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved” (Romans 10:10).

Have you made things right with Jesus?  If not, do it now.

Goodnight, Runners.