“Justified: By Works or Grace?” Week 5 (Galatians 3:1-5)

1. Don’t Be Led Astray - Paul asks “did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” The Spirit of God is not and cannot be earned. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, is everything to the life of the believer. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and you would never be converted if the Spirit did not show you your sin and your need for Jesus. It was God’s grace that allowed you to hear it and it is your faith by which you received it. No works involved. Don’t be led astray. It is by faith you receive salvation.

2. Beware of Self Reliance - When we do a couple of good things, and suddenly we take credit for doing these things, this opens the dangerous door to self-reliance. When you try to do it on your own you usually will mess it up. It was God who brought you into this world. His son died in your place, His Spirit brought you to salvation and you can do nothing apart from Him.

3. Stop Suffering Needlessly - You will always be trying to do enough, but it will never be enough. Why would you suffer for something you could have avoided? All you will find when adding some work to the Gospel will be disappointment and judgment. You can’t do anything more than what Christ has already done to be justified. What you can do is trust Him and then honor Him by letting Him live through you. God works through you by His Spirit because of your faith in Him.