DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RESTING IN GOD'S GRACE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – RESTING IN GOD'S GRACE

"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (Galatians 2:21)

There are those even today, two thousand years later, who say that works of righteousness are necessary for salvation. Paul would say that if that is true, then Jesus died in vain. His sacrifice was worthless.

There is no doubt that people who have been born into God's family will do works of righteousness. As it is written, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). If there are no fruit that follow my life, then it might be questionable whether I am really a child of God. A son or daughter of God will do what God does. God is holy and good and His nature will be the nature of His children because His Spirit lives within us. We will bear the fruit of His life in us. In another metaphor, Jesus said that we are attached to the vine – that is Christ. In His words, Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless It abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5). A person who is living attached to Christ the vine will bear good fruit.

But that is a far cry from these good works being a requirement for salvation. The fruit follows being attached to the Vine. Doing good works does not attach us to Christ. Good works are a result of being in Christ and Christ in us.

It is a relief to know that I cannot earn my salvation by good works. If works were a requirement, I would always be wondering if I did enough good works. How many good works might God require to enter Heaven? I would always be in doubt about my salvation.

But since Jesus paid the total price, I can rest in that knowledge. I have total confidence that the Father has accepted the sacrifice of Christ as sufficient payment for my sins, and that I can add nothing except to believe it. I rest in that knowledge. "Therefore, having be justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). I am at peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love, Dad