Rising up, once I was too sick to go to highschool, I’d lie on the sofa and watch tv. One of many reveals was The Value Is Proper. I beloved attempting to guess costs on objects, and folks have been so completely happy when their identify was known as; I wished my identify to be known as! Folks would soar up and down and run all the way down to the stage. In direction of the tip of the present, they supplied massive prizes, akin to journeys to Hawaii or a brand new automotive. The particular person needed to resolve between the prize they simply noticed or take an opportunity with what was behind one other door. That they had no concept what was behind door #2.
In our studying from Galatians at present, now we have a selection: the Regulation or the Gospel. Fortunately, we all know that selecting the Gospel is much better than attempting to depend upon the Regulation. Counting on the Regulation results in a curse for everybody (vs. 10). The Regulation can’t be absolutely obeyed except you might be Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus took on the Regulation and the curse for us. This provides us the liberty to observe by religion—“The one who’s righteous will stay by religion” (vs. 12). That’s for us! We stay by religion. Righteousness comes from Christ and what he completed for us on the cross and thru the resurrection.
We see the thought of righteous residing by religion in Habakkuk 2:4. This was written throughout a time when Israel was being devastated. Religion was the one manner for them to have life. It’s our solely manner, as properly. Romans 1:16-17 says, “The one who’s righteous will stay by religion.”
Religion is the ticket to the massive prize. We stroll by religion due to Christ Jesus. We joyfully give thanks and reward to the Lord that the promise of the Spirit has been poured out to us.
The Rev. Sara Oxley is the rector of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland, Florida.
The Scottish Episcopal Church
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
