the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Galatians 2:11-21
What was it that made this returning to the law so serious? Why does Paul take it so much to heart that he even blames Peter publicly for his equivocal attitude? (vv. 11-14). It is because the very fact of encouraging believers to return to Judaism and rely on works was in reality saying that the work of the Lord Jesus was not enough. That is how many Christians in our own day seem to think. They recognise in principle the atoning value of Christ’s sacrifice. But at the same time they base their salvation on their own works and on the observance of their religion. They do their best and count on God for the rest. Let us reply to them in v. 16 "that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ." Such a simple way? Yes, but made available by such a great Person! It is "the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me" (v. 20). What is my part in this work? The part a dead person can play, that is to say, nothing. Being crucified with Christ, I am free from the law, and "yet not I, but Christ liveth in me . . ." Dear reader, whom the Lord loves, can you take these blessed statements as applying to yourself in all truth?
