How can we rely on faith rather than works for our salvation? Setting the Scene: Galatians 3:10 “All who rely on works of the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’” Why Works Cannot Save Us • One failure places a person under the curse; the standard is flawless obedience. • Deuteronomy 27:26 confirms the same absolute demand. • Romans 3:20 explains that “no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law; for the law merely brings awareness of sin.” • Depending on performance turns the law into a mirror that exposes, never into soap that cleanses. Faith from Start to Finish • Abraham “believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). • Habakkuk 2:4 states, “The righteous will live by faith.” Paul echoes this in Galatians 3:11. • Romans 4:4-5 contrasts wages earned with righteousness credited to the one “who does not work but believes God.” The Cross Breaks the Curse • “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). • Isaiah 53:5 foretells this substitution; 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains its outcome—our receiving His righteousness. • At the cross Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30); nothing remains for us to add. Grace, Not Paycheck • “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith… not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). • Titus 3:5 reinforces that salvation rests on mercy, not on “works of righteousness that we had done.” Practical Steps for Everyday Reliance on Faith • Start each day reminding yourself of the finished work of Christ; preach the gospel to your own heart. • Memorize key verses (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:1) to silence accusations that drive you back to performance-based acceptance. • Celebrate obedience as the fruit of salvation, never the root. • Invite accountability that points you to grace when legalism creeps in. • Cultivate gratitude; thanksgiving shifts focus from self-effort to God’s generosity. Guardrails Against Slipping Back into Works • Watch for pride when spiritual disciplines flourish; success can tempt the heart to self-reliance. • Notice despair after failure; condemnation signals a works mindset. • Anchor assurance in Christ’s promise rather than fluctuating feelings (1 John 5:13). Assurance Rooted in God’s Promise Because Scripture is sure and literal, the promise stands: “The righteous will live by faith.” Resting in that promise frees the soul from the curse, grounds security in Christ’s completed work, and energizes a life of grateful obedience. |
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