Perfected in the Spirit

Believers, see Galatians 3 (NLT):

2 "Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?4 Have you experience so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ."

Verse 5 says in NKJV: "Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—"

Whatever it is that worries you, keep on hearing this "hearing of faith" and you will realise just how much our Abba Father loves you and how it is His greatest desire to make you whole. In Christ, you are a priceless and beloved child in His eyes. ALWAYS.

Remember faith comes from hearing; not hearing by the Law (which is not of faith) but "hearing by the word of Christ."

Some bible versions like KJV and NKJV have "hearing by the word of God" but this is an incorrect translation. The original Greek translation says "word of Christ." The word of Christ - the gospel - is the hearing of faith.

The Law is also the word of God, true and righteous but "the Law is not of faith," "without faith it is impossible to please God" and whatever the Law says, it does not say to we who are under Grace. The Law was given not for us to keep in order to attain righteousness (doing this is walking in the flesh) but to show everyone up as guilty before God. See Romans 3:19-

"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

Many of us are rightly concerned about living morally upright lives but this can never be achieved by doing your best to keep the Law and be good. 1 Corinthians 15:56 says "...the strength of sin is the law." The more you try to keep the Law (which cannot make any righteous in God's sight,) the stronger the grip of sin will be in your life.

It is Christ's "Neither do I condemn you" that makes us "go and sin no more." Not our puny efforts at obeying the Law in order to be righteous; Galatians 5:4 says:

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."

Believe Right and you will not want to sin "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13.

By God's grace, keep on hearing the hearing of faith and the Lord our Shepherd's goodness and mercy will hunt you down all the days of your life.

Grace swallows up sin.

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.

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