Romans 3:26-27 (Amplified) says that, "To declare, as to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has (true) faith in Jesus." Verse 27 says, "Then what becomes of (our) pride and (our) boasting? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely) on what principle? (on the principle) of doing good deeds? No, but on the principle of faith."
Romans 1:5 (Amplified) tells us, "It is through Him that we have received grace (God's unmerited favor) and (our) apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name's sake among all the nations."
We find in these scriptures, as well as many others, that our righteousness and justification is based on our faith in Jesus. We are told in Romans 1:5 (Amplified) that we are to "promote obedience to the faith." This is a message many in the book of Galatians had forgotten and they drifted back into works and Law. Galatians 3:3 (Amplified) asks, "Are you so foolish and so senseless and so sill? Having begun (your new life spiritually) with the (Holy) Spirit, are you now reaching perfection (by dependence) on the flesh?"
These were people Paul had led to the Lord by preaching grace and now were trying to walk back under the Law. By doing good deeds and operating in rituals and ceremonies. Galatians 3:10 (Amplified) says, "And all who depend on the Law (who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals) are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the scriptures, cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the book of the Law and to practice them." In the same book, Galatians 5:4 (Amplified), we read, "If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ; You have fallen away from grace (from God's gracious favor and unmerited blessing)."
This isn't a position that any Christian would ever knowingly put himself under. Many times we find ourselves trying to merit favor by spending more time in prayer or reading the Word. We should spend time in prayer and reading the Word, but not to obtain favor with God, but to learn of His grace. When we do these things (thinking He will hear you), we have unknowingly placed ourselves into a position of works instead of grace.
Our tithes, offerings or even our call into ministry don't give us any more influence with God. Only our faith in what Jesus did will do that. God hears your prayers because of Jesus' right standing with Him and your right standing with Jesus. We have not right standing with God apart from Jesus. He is our righteousness and only faith in Him can bring us to the throne of grace. Did you notice that it's the throne of grace and not Law or good deeds?
When we become obedient to the faith, as Paul taught, we set ourselves in a position for God's blessing and favor. When we try obtaining it in any other way, we have fallen from grace and must depend on our own righteousness (which we do not have). Under the Law, there was a curse that declared we must fulfill it all or else. Under grace, we find that Jesus has redeemed us from the curse. Galatians 3:13-14 (Amplified) tells us that, "Christ has purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the curse (doom) of the Law (and its condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, for it is written (in the scriptures) cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)." Verse 14 says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus, the blessing (promised) to Abraham might come upon the gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the (Holy) Spirit."
You might say, "I don't live by the Law and it's rituals, I'm saved by grace." Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by fee grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing) (it came not through your own striving) but it is the gift of God." This is exactly what Paul was speaking about when he wrote the Galatians. They didn't necessarily go back to sacrificing animals, but they did begin depending upon some of the Law concerning foods they ate, days they observed and things they "touched not" or handled not at certain times."
As Christians today, we have our own ideas of what we observe (even if we don't call it the Law). If think that if we do bad, then God will give us bad and if we do good, then God will give us good. I don't want my walk with God to be based on my own righteousness. I want my walk with God to be based on my faith in Jesus. My righteousness (if I ever had any) can fail, but Jesus, Who is my righteousness can never fail. Even at my best, I am wrong, but Jesus is always the same.
My walk with God is based on my faith in Christ Jesus. Does this mean that it makes no difference what I do? No! But what I do doesn't change Who Jesus is. As I learn and grow in Him, the things I used to do will begin to fall away and His life will begin to overtake my life. We grow from His presence and our knowledge of His presence in us, by the Holy Spirit. 2Corinthians 5:7 (Amplified) says, "For we walk by faith (we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things with trust and fervor; Thus we walk) not by sight or appearance."
We continue walking with God based on whether we are still imperfect or not. And, we walk comparing ourselves to others in order to justify ourselves. This is still walking by Law and not extending grace unto others.
The same grace that forgave me and helped me grow into maturity will also help those who are in the same struggle. The reason we read the Word, isn't to make brownie points with God, but to learn more about Jesus. 2Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified) says, "And all of us, as with unveiled face (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit."
We read the Word to learn and to become what Jesus is. Only faith in His Word to change us, can change us. Only as we see Him revealed through the Word, can we be changed into that image. As we see Him is how we serve Him. As we see what He has done to set us free, we can begin walking in that freedom because "Whomsoever the Son sets free, is free indeed." As we grow in the knowledge of Jesus and what He has really done on our behalf, we walk in different degrees of freedom.
We have all received the same degree of grace and favor, but some of us have learned more about what we really have in Jesus than others have. The more we learn, the more liberty we have. Jesus did more than forgive our sin. He restored us back to the fullness of God's grace and blessing. This is exactly what Paul spoke about, "being transfigured into His very Own Image" in 2Corinthians 3:18. Only the Holy Spirit, by HIs Word, can do this...BY FAITH.
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