The over-arching issue in Paul's letter to the Galatians is a loss of liberty—the freedom that was secured in the finished work of Christ alone is now in jeopardy.
The question before us as we close out this powerful letter is: When did we buy into the legalist lie that what God wants to accomplish in us will be accomplished by the self-determination of our wills in concert with repeated attempts at holiness in our own strength?
All such self-generated attempts at sanctification eventually fail and must fail if God would lay sole claim to the work—and He does. On this point, Scripture is very clear.
Phil 1:6, {For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
“work” Gk ergon- what anyone is occupied with; that which one undertakes to do; the idea of working is emphasized; toil.
“perfect/perform KJV/carry on to completion NIV” Gk epiteleo- to bring to an end, to accomplish, to perfect, to execute, to complete; to take upon oneself.
We depend entirely upon the power and the work of God in our salvation. Why would we think that God in any way depends on us for sanctification?
We stand in, and rest entirely upon, the righteousness of Christ for justification. We fully acknowledge that we bring nothing to this accomplishment. It is entirely a work of God.
Rom 5:1-2 1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
We stand in this grace; in both salvation and sanctification.
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
