Freedom

 I've been listening to a sermon series on Galatians.  I'm no where close to done with it (there are 24 sermons, as you can see), but I am finding my thinking challenged and convicted.  You see, I grew up in a "performance based" household.  Everything I did was to gain favor with someone.  In a lot of ways, while I had a basic understanding of grace, I thought God was the same way.  This balance of works/law and grace is hard to figure out.  Especially for someone like me who wants to puzzle things out until complete understanding dawns.  I don't really think complete understanding will dawn for me on this one for a very long time, if it does this side of heaven.  

Galatians 5:1 says, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."  At the same time, in chapter 6, verse 9, Paul says, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."  Hmmm.  We are set free.   And we should do good.  In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."  So, we can't save ourselves by anything we do, and the good works show up again.  But notice something, we are created IN Christ for good works.  Works that God prepared beforehand.  Jesus addresses this in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."  

That is a lot of scripture all pointing to one thing - we are saved by the finished work of Jesus so that the Holy Spirit can work in and through us to the glory of God the Father.  It is about Him.  He does the works that He has prepared.  We just need to abide.  We just need to surrender.  Our works in our own strength  do nothing - not for our salvation and not for our sanctification.  So abide, and be free.

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