Oh ye foolish Galations! My statement of faith and works.... and an Angry God

If Grace be Grace, and Faith be Faith, then there is no part in works for our salvation. Ephesians Two says that "you are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God has prepared beforehand for us to walk in". So even the really neat things we get to do have nothing to do with our abilities and everything with Gods desires for us and others.

I remember going to a Jesus People meeting at UW Superior in 1972. They had a rocking concert and then presented a gospel message following the concert. A man my age approached me, asked If I had questions. I had plenty. What I heard just didn't make sense to me. We talked for a while, he sense something was wrong when he asked the question, I answered. I had been involved in the occult for several years, since I was 14 or 15. It had been a couple years since I had done anything, mostly because I got the crap scared out of me when a girlfriend wanted me to “conjure up a ghost” I think we both nearly lost our sanity. During those years I became acquainted with the demands and fear associated with the occult. I don’t often say much about it, no need to dredge up the past. That said I also know the reality of the “dark side” and the price demanded for favoritism. I cringe when anything close to that form of pay for acceptance is conjoined with the Grace of God.

I was told today by a friend that God was scourging him, I repulse at that idea. My response was not gentle. You mean the Blood of Jesus and that of your own will bring your salvation? Nonsense I continued. My friend began to show the look of someone who had been deeply wounded. I realized how wrong my expression was. I am so sorry for hurting my friend. I cannot accept his doctrines, even for a moment.

Its in scripture I was told. I don’t doubt that it can be found somewhere in the Old Testament. It is also true that God has apparently chosen to operate at this time in an age of Grace. Jesus Christ is the Propitiation of our Sin, meaning He became the substitute for our payment due for sin. Many books have been written on the subject, by man and women far more scholarly than I. With Christ’s death, the penalty of our sins was paid. To say or believe anything else needs to be added to that ultimate price is Anathema.

Galatians chapter 3~ vs. 1~14 reads:


You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Amen.