March 15 – LD 11, Day 4: Salvation all of Grace
by Rev Allen Brummel
Galatians 5:4 “Christ is
become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are
justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
A constant temptation is
to look to our own works for the worthiness of our salvation. Even though
we reject the theology of work’s righteousness, we look at our lives and we
think we deserve better than we have. We think that we don’t deserve the
troubles that we are experiencing. It should not be so difficult for us
to pay our bills. We should have more joy in our lives. And, if
asked why, we point to our own faithfulness. Look at all we have done for
our parents and for our church and look at how godly we’ve lived. Our
sins don’t disturb us much, and we don’t focus on them. Instead we are as
focused as the Pharisees on all the ways in which we are better than
others.
That kind of attitude
reveals that we don’t see a deep need for Jesus. By our walk we deny and
show hatred for Jesus. We are guilty of the sin of counting the blood of
Jesus of no account- we act like a man who could be saved by his own works,
therefore Jesus was crucified in vain. Remember, Jesus came to seek and
to save that which was lost.
God works the difficult
confession- I am a sinner who cannot live in obedience to the law. The
good that I would I do not. (Romans 7:19) My only hope is the wonder of
grace shown me in Jesus Christ. He seeks me as one who is lost and He gives
to me as one who has strayed and continues to stray each day, the assurance
that salvation is not of works but by His wonderful grace alone. Don’t return
to the bondage of living for yourself- enjoy and live out of the liberty of
seeking the glory of God. Look to the wonder of God’s unmerited favor in
giving to you Jesus- your complete and only Savior.