From Beginning to End: Christ's Role in Our Salvation
Galatians 3:3
Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
One who has truly placed his or her trust in Jesus Christ for salvation must come to an understanding that Christ is not just the author of their faith, but also the finisher! How often do Christians get confused and even afraid after they have sinned, thinking that somehow it is up to them to keep themselves saved from the wrath to come? Dear brothers and sisters, we are indeed admonished not to sin after we have put our faith in Christ, and yet we are also given the promise that when we do, Jesus Christ is our advocate, representing our case before our Heavenly Father (see 1 John 2:1). In other words, not only does He save us from our past sins, but He will also sustain our salvation through any present or future sins we may commit.
Look again at what Paul wrote to us in our text, “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” In essence, what Paul is teaching is this; due to the fact that no flesh could be justified by keeping the law in the first place, do you really think that’s going to change after placing your faith in Christ? Do you really believe that since Christ Himself is the fulfillment of the law, that He is going to place you back under the yoke and the bondage of a law that only brought condemnation in the first place?
No! The only reason the law was given was to convince men of their inability to keep it, so that they would see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior! Once you trust Christ as your Savior, salvation is complete! It is not only started in Christ but it is also finished. Therefore, our works after receiving Christ are not so that we can keep ourselves saved; our works are simply to glorify our Father, and to bring others to Him! They do not contribute one ounce of holiness or worthiness to us in terms of salvation. The only safe place for us before a holy God is not in our continued efforts, but in Christ’s complete work at Calvary! No wonder Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
Question: Are you just free, or are you free indeed? If trying to live right couldn’t save you before, what makes you think it’s going to work now? It will never work, and that’s why Christ had to do such a thorough work on the Cross. Trust Christ, who said, “It is finished.”
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
One who has truly placed his or her trust in Jesus Christ for salvation must come to an understanding that Christ is not just the author of their faith, but also the finisher! How often do Christians get confused and even afraid after they have sinned, thinking that somehow it is up to them to keep themselves saved from the wrath to come? Dear brothers and sisters, we are indeed admonished not to sin after we have put our faith in Christ, and yet we are also given the promise that when we do, Jesus Christ is our advocate, representing our case before our Heavenly Father (see 1 John 2:1). In other words, not only does He save us from our past sins, but He will also sustain our salvation through any present or future sins we may commit.
Look again at what Paul wrote to us in our text, “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” In essence, what Paul is teaching is this; due to the fact that no flesh could be justified by keeping the law in the first place, do you really think that’s going to change after placing your faith in Christ? Do you really believe that since Christ Himself is the fulfillment of the law, that He is going to place you back under the yoke and the bondage of a law that only brought condemnation in the first place?
No! The only reason the law was given was to convince men of their inability to keep it, so that they would see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior! Once you trust Christ as your Savior, salvation is complete! It is not only started in Christ but it is also finished. Therefore, our works after receiving Christ are not so that we can keep ourselves saved; our works are simply to glorify our Father, and to bring others to Him! They do not contribute one ounce of holiness or worthiness to us in terms of salvation. The only safe place for us before a holy God is not in our continued efforts, but in Christ’s complete work at Calvary! No wonder Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
Question: Are you just free, or are you free indeed? If trying to live right couldn’t save you before, what makes you think it’s going to work now? It will never work, and that’s why Christ had to do such a thorough work on the Cross. Trust Christ, who said, “It is finished.”
~ Pastor Gary Caudill