Righteousness in Christ is not through law-keeping

Believers, believe right. Let's not follow after the example of the Galatians who thought they had to "maintain their salvation" by human effort (keeping the law in order to be righteous) after they received Christ as their Saviour. Check out Paul's analogy on law and grace (featuring Abraham’s two children) in Galatians 4: 21-31:

"21 Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

24 These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. 27 As Isaiah said,

“Rejoice, O childless woman,

you who have never given birth!

Break into a joyful shout,

you who have never been in labor!

For the desolate woman now has more children

than the woman who lives with her husband!”

28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.

30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman."

In Christ, we are children of the promise. And today, those who believe in keeping the law in order to be righteous and enjoy God's blessings persecute us Grace children, just as Ishmael of human effort persecuted Isaac of Grace!

Grace is our Mother, not Hagar. There is no inheritance of the promise of God for those who are trying keep the law in order to get into God's good books or to "maintain your salvation." The promise of God for His children is an inheritance. It can never be earned by law-keeping and good works, much like how Isaac did nothing to earn Abraham's blessings. He was born into it. Likewise, our being born-again (born of the Spirit) makes us sons of God and joint heirs with Christ. Grace is our Teacher, not the law (See Titus 2:11-14.)

In the story of our salvation in Christ, we have nothing to boast about, not our fasts, self-discipline, good works and law-keeping. All of these things are dead works if they are done in a bid to attain right-standing before God. Let's be for the law for the purpose for which it was given: to show that the entire world is guilty before God. See Romans 3:

"19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are."

Righteousness before God is a gift that was purchased for the world with the the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the only brand of righteousness that suffices for our righteous God. Seek His righteousness, not yours, and "all these things will be added unto you." You will live in triumph over sin, give more, do more, love more and live right, yet not you but Christ in you. These are faith works, "For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:21 says of our Lord God: "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

The only way to get cut off from Christ and thus "lose your salvation" is to stop believing the above verse and go back to law-keeping in order to attain the righteousness that Christ died that we might have. See Galatians 5:4-

"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."

"For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are" says Romans 3:20. It takes 100% righteousness to be saved and this is beyond human capacity. Christ says in Matthew 5:20-

“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!"

Do we really think that we can beat the teachers of the religious law at their law-keeping? Even the good things we do in order to be righteous are filthy rags (menstrual rags in original Hebrew text) according to Isaiah 64:6.

By God's grace, have the right foundation. Under the new covenant, righteousness is not right doing; it is a gift that Christ died that we might have. In Christ, the Lord Himself is our Righteousness. When your believing is right, right living will follow. Only when our believing is right can we produce "a harvest of good deeds for God." (Romans 7:4-5)

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.