Galatians 2:16
“nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
This is the Good News. Centuries and millennia have witnessed our population seeking to get right with God. We all have this inherent sense that the relationship (with God) is damaged. Naturalistic religions see Him as angry and needs to be appeased. There are all sorts of rituals and sacrifices to accomplish this. They are correct. Things are not right.
Religions do what they can to repair the relationship. Most of the effort comes from the worshippers. If it be confession, penance or a life of sacrifice. All of this has us trying to repair it. Unfortunately, it’s not humanly possible. Today’s passage says that we are “not justified by works”. That’s all we’ve got is works.
If our efforts don’t help, what are we to do? It says “we are justified by faith in Christ”. He came and died in our place. That’s what He did for us. Otherwise we would all have to pay for our sins. Unfortunately, the payment for sin is separation from God and that’s eternal. So, either we die or Jesus takes our place.
That’s what He came to do. When we read the gospels, we witness him trying to tamp down a popular movement. John 6:15 says, “Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.” His purpose was to offer Himself as a sacrifice, not to create a following.
The first problem to fix was repairing the rift between the Lord and His people. Spreading the message would come later. A way had to be made. It wasn’t a simple one. The devil and his demons were also in the guilty category. If the Lord overlooked sin in humans, then they would cry foul and would demand their forgiveness.
Redemption was complicated. We can learn much from a court of law. Mercy and forgiveness aren’t a part of it. There might be lesser sentences, but not forgiveness. So, even though God is merciful and loving, He can’t forgive, unless there’s payment. If we were to pay, then that would mean eternal separation from Him; a bad option for us so. He sent His Son. He was able to take eternity and compress it into three hours on a cross.
Jesus’ death was substituted for ours. All the horrors that we would have experienced in eternity were put on Him. I believe it started in the Garden of Gethsemane; right when He said, “not My will, but Thine”. He began sweating great drops of blood. Whenever it began, He paid for our sin.
Some are upset that there aren’t other ways to God. They complain that it’s so limited. They don’t understand that other ways would require a similar sacrifice. God’s way was very expensive. It not possible to create another way, unless there’s another substitutionary death. They don’t understand the cost. Some ask as they are thinking of a loved one that wasn’t a christian. Some never heard the good news. They further don’t understand that they can’t be judged for something they haven’t heard. Romans one explains how those are judged by a different standard. They need not be sad. God will be fair.
Lord, thank You for sending Jesus. So kind and loving. Help us to grasp the great cost. Thank You for purchasing our forgiveness.