Galatians 3:2
“This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”
While Paul is questioning the Galatians, he is teaching the rest of us. We further our understanding of how we relate to the Lord. It’s through faith. Many struggle with guilt, thus we attempt to repair it. This is usually by trying harder or doing better. Depending on what we feel guilty about, some action may be required. For example, if we feel badly about being too harsh with someone, then we should apologize. Our conscience corrects us.
Some feel a generalized guilt. Not for anything specific. It comes from a poor view of one’s self. It says, “I’m bad.” It’s difficult to live under guilt, so we perform to erase it. This can provide a temporary relief, but it will return. What helps is love and a corrected self concept.
Many feel such guilt when it comes to God. He is perfect and we’re not. We attempt to rectify this with actions. This is attempting to get His favor with good actions. This doesn’t work. Many religions have this component. Robert DeNiro seeks his penance in the movie The Mission. He climbs a mountain with a great weight on his back in an attempt to absolve himself of his sins. Many are unhappy with religion for this reason.
Paul asks the question about how we received the Spirit. The general thought is “how are we made right with God?” His point is not by works or good deeds. We get right with God by accepting Christ’s sacrifice for us. He climbed the hill, He died and rose again. We can’t pay for our own sins and live. He did it for us.
One can be forgiven in Christ and right with God and still have some misconceptions. Just like the person that said of himself, “I’m bad”, we can be forgiven and not see ourselves as God does. How does God see us? He loves us and delights in us. David tells of this in Psalm 139:17,18, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand…” We might be able to acquire a list of our positive traits. However, that list ends at about a dozen. The Lord’s list is endless.
This is salve to soul of the one with the harsh self concept. Unfortunately, it takes time for this to sink in. The negative view wasn’t built in a day, it won’t be repaired in a day. When the toxins surface, the salve of God’s love is applied. It takes years. This doesn’t mean we can’t be happy and satisfied in Him. It does mean that we get more satisfied as we grow. In time, our view becomes more congruent with God’s. The relief can be seen on one’s face. The relief, then the joy.
We received the Spirit by faith. So are all our dealings with Him. We “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The difficulties of life are experienced knowing He still loves us and is guiding us. Sour circumstances doesn’t mean He is sour towards us. We trust Him in spite of it all. He gives us joy in the dark times.
Lord, thank You for Your approval of us. No matter what’s going on, You are lovingly guiding and caring. We don’t have to earn it. You’ve paid it all. We reap the joy of a great relationship with You because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Thank You!