“Children Of God By Faith In Christ Jesus”

Galatians 3: 22-29

22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

M

an is “stuck” in trusting himself and his ability. Because of the deception to which he is prone, he has no confidence in anyone else. Now that we have been redeemed, the problem with this is that Jesus is the only One on Whom we can depend and if we do not trust Him, we certainly will receive no help.

We constantly make affirmations that God can and that we know that He will, but in order to see His promises manifested, we must accept that all is already done. You see, “the promise of faith by Jesus...” is given to them who believe. Only those who are willing to step outside themselves and believe God will be able to access the things of faith.

Before mankind ever knew of faith in God, they were given a code of laws to follow. The purpose of them being given was to illustrate the need for a Savior. This was proven by the fact that before Moses ever came down from the mountain, the new “unproven” and “un-introduced” law had already been broken. What is the point of all of this? That Man might understand that though he might know the difference between right and wrong, he would forever be unable to make himself “do” right.

Israel was not in a position to understand either what God said or why he was unable to do as He said. In being unable to do so, they were frequently chastised not for what they could not do (live free from sin), but rather, for failing to do what they could — that is, obey God.

All that occurred during the time of the Old Testament was to illustrate to us that there was a “void” in Man that only another Being could fill. For the most part, we seem to have “missed” the message. We have continued to attempt to exist by our own strength, almost as if we are determined to prove God a “liar.”

It is amazing all that we are willing to “endure” just to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh, though those pleasures are temporary and lead to sure death. This, though for a simple “exchange” of ourselves for the leading of God, we could be forever free from “the conscience of sin.” This can happen only when one is put to death with Christ and hence, freed from sin.

The children of Israel illustrated for us for all time that one can only be a “(child) of God by faith...”. Though they constantly saw the words of the Law written everywhere, they remained unable to fulfill it. In other words, no amount of “intellectualizing” the Word will enable people to learn it. In the same way, no human being stops doing what is wrong simply because he knows that it is wrong. Not that he would not if he could. The issue is that he is unable to!

Because of the nature of his birth, Man is “locked into” what and who he is. There is no help within him or outside of him in his natural state. His only help is to accept what God says by faith! Once we have done this, we will find that we are able to praise Him for all things.

One of the reasons that the Law was “doomed” to failure is that the Law involved the performing of “works,” which involves human effort. In that there is no justification through works, neither can there be any salvation. Salvation is granted to us not based upon anything that we have or could do, but rather, what Jesus has already done!

If we believe that Jesus died, we must also believe that He did exactly as scripture says that He did. If we believe this, then we must also accept what He has done and that we have been “put to death” with Him. Accepting the death of all of the things that plague the human being is the route to joy. The human existence is miserable and intolerable without Jesus—but with Him, a new world is opened up to us.

There will be no stopping the praise of one who actually accepts his freedom in Christ. This person will extol the Lord not to “get out of trouble,” “feel better,” or to thank Him for “things.” This one who knows Who He is will praise Him for Who He is.

One who would be a “(child) of God…” must be liberated from his mind, body and all that would keep him from unity with the Lord. Apart from this and whether we want to admit it or not, we will remain hopeless—and Jesus’ life is worth more than that.