Grace and Faith

Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalms 38; Galatians 2 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.”

Galatians 2:20, 21

The many paths of salvation through human effort, religious works, good deeds, and being a ‘good person’ leads to dead ends. Paul reminds us that only the death of Christ, the Son of God, and a sinless sacrifice, could atone for our sin. It was our sin that took Jesus to the cross. When we receive Christ’s atonement for our sin, by faith, we are receiving the grace, or unmerited favor, of God. We cannot both trust Christ for our salvation and trust our religious sacrifices, effort, or good deeds to save us. We now live by faith in Christ, not just for salvation, but for our daily life. This full dependence on the grace of God requires humility and death to self.

Are we living by faith in full dependence on Christ’s grace?

“Lord Jesus, you are my life. My full dependence is on you this day, for your glory.”