Justified by the Law? - Part 776

"Christ is become of no effect unto you -- whosoever of you are justified by the law -- ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:4) But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew [their] strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles -- they shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

Why? Because those of us who believe in Jesus by faith are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; "that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light ..." (I Peter 2:9)

This is why the book of Acts is so critical to understanding the new covenant. Acts teaches us what the disciples did with Jesus' teachings in their daily lives. How Jesus' teachings were put into action. How those who walked daily with our Lord God and Saviour on earth moved forward in their faith journey -- beyond the gospels -- reaching out to those new in the faith and teaching them the good news message of the kingdom. 

We especially see this in the second chapter of Acts. Herein, Peter is standing in one accord with the other apostles. The apostles had been sharing the gospel on the day of Pentecost. Convicted in their hearts, people started asking, "What must we do to inherit eternal life?" 

This is the same question we ask today when we discover that all (meaning each and every one of us) have fallen short of the glory of God. Indeed, "there is none righteous -- no not one. There is none that understands. There is none that seeks after God. They have all gone out of the way. They are together become unprofitable. There is none that does good, no not one. " (Romans 3:10-12) 

Isaiah wrote, "But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities like the wind -- have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6) In our sinful state (before repentance) we do not know the way of peace. There is no fear of God in our eyes. (Romans 3:17-18)

But for those who believe in Jesus by faith, there is hope and peace and joy. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not of works lest any man boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) And according to Romans 3, we are not saved by adherence to the law and/or ten commandments either. The law was given as a schoolmaster, pointing us to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in His sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe -- for there is no difference --- for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 

Being justified freely by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus -- whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God -- to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness; that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:11-26)

This is why the people in the upper room were concerned. "What shall we do?" they asked. As we read, Peter standing with the other apostles said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) 

As a consequence, 3,000 new believers responded to the call and were baptized that same day. We need to respond in the same way. Let him who hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.