“Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:2-5).
In the book of Galatians the apostle Paul spent most of his effort to re-educate his readers about faith in Christ rather than living according to the Mosaic Law. He challenges his readers saying, “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” Paul makes an excellent point.
Consider what you have received in Christ. Your salvation. Your growth to maturity. Your Christian relationships. And of course, your filling by the Holy Spirit. Chances are, when you received Christ your whole life began to change and these were just some of the things that God gifted you with when you come to faith. And the Mosaic Law didn’t perform any of it.
There is a place for the Old Testament laws in our lives. It is the word of God. As such, it has great value being from God. But our observance is not in the law itself as much as it is to Christ and the principles that he taught. So, while we mature and grow, it is by faith in him rather than on the precepts of the law. Without faith in Christ, the law cannot save.
What are you obeying in your life? It comes down to principles or a person. Principles are important and they should not be ignored. But, ultimately, it is the person of Christ to whom we are attached, and who we must obey.
Memory Verse
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).
Application
The word of God cannot be separated from the person of God. As such, obey his word is obeying him. What or whom are you obeying?