Devotionals for April 27, 2022
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READ
Galatians 2:16-21
16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” 17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” 17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
REFLECT
The law can never make us acceptable to God and it can’t save us. Because we have all been infected by sin, we cannot keep God’s laws perfectly. The law does guard us from sin by giving us standards for our behavior, convicting us of sin, and driving us to trust in Christ’s sufficiency. Fortunately, God has provided a way of salvation that depends on Jesus Christ, not our own efforts. With Christ, we are no longer alone, he is our power for living and our hope for the future.
APPLY
Q: Can obeying the law fix our sinful problem?
Q: What does it mean to have your old self crucified with Christ? Are you living this way?
Q: Do you know people who think that obeying the laws or being a good person is all they need to get into heaven? How can you minister to them?
Q: What does it mean to have your old self crucified with Christ? Are you living this way?
Q: Do you know people who think that obeying the laws or being a good person is all they need to get into heaven? How can you minister to them?
SING
PRAY
"Give us today our daily bread."
Heavenly Father, You give me all that I need. I need Jesus to get salvation. My works or obeying the laws aren’t enough. Thank you that Christ lives within me and I can rely on His power to help me overcome my sins and know that I have hope for the future.
Heavenly Father, You give me all that I need. I need Jesus to get salvation. My works or obeying the laws aren’t enough. Thank you that Christ lives within me and I can rely on His power to help me overcome my sins and know that I have hope for the future.