Pastor Rusty milton

"The Magna Carta of Christian Freedom"

Galatians 2:15-21 ESV

Christianity is not about what you've done for God, but what God has done for you. Many Christians believe God's love is conditional depending on how they are doing. In Galatians, however, Paul holds out the two arms of faith to combat this tendency: resting and receiving. Resting in Christ, and receiving him as our Lord and King--to rule and reign in our lives in as much as his work atones for our own sins. By faith, we rest in Christ for justification and sanctification. In other words, we know that his works, not ours, erase our sins (vs. 16), and that he accomplishes our sanctification--our daily fight against sin and transformation into the likeness of Christ (Vs. 20). How then should we live? We should live each day in the full knowledge that our flesh is crucified through moment by moment decisions to put the flesh to death, and walk in the Spirit. Flee to Christ in prayer for grace and strength. Flee to his Word to fill your mind. Put your faith in Christ, knowing he justifies you. Keep fighting through the power of the Spirit.

Galatians 2:15-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

Justified by Faith

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified[a] by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness[b] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.