Today's Passage - Galatians 2:15-19

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Galatians 2 15-19   We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.  But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn't that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.  For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.   We like to put people in categories.  Someone who comes to church for service every week, tithe and participate in ministry would feel more spiritual and closer to God because certain requirements are met.  That, however, is not the case.  Even though many people think they are righteous because of their behavior, but it's actually easier to just follow the law because God actually examines our heart.  God values the heart more than anything external, and that's why Jesus severely rebuked the Pharisees, for they only paid attention to the law on the outside but ignored the true will of God.  In fact, Pharisees were not bad people, they were all upright and pious people. They, however, thought that they could come before God by their action, so they treat themselves harshly.  It was a surprise to them that God love a sinner who truly repented more than a self-righteous man!  Actually, no matter how good or bad a person is, before God the difference is negligible, for everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's glory.   We are able to be saved and justified not because of our action, because no one will ever be completely right.  We can be saved because we are called righteous before Jesus, and it's completely because of our faith.  We believe in God's redemption and substitution of the sinners by Jesus.  We believe that, because of our sin, God prepared a way for redemption, which is to let Jesus take on all the punishment on our behalf, so that we may be justified because of Him.  We can believe and accept Jesus by faith, and when we open our hearts to welcome Jesus into our lives, it's to accept Him as our personal savior.  It's as if I knock on your door, you open the door and saw me, then welcome me inside.  Faith is the same - When Jesus knocks on the door of your hearth, and you open to door to welcome Him in, He will enter into your life and bring forth change and new life, and you will be delivered from sin!                                                                  Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, we thank you because you are a faithful God.  We may be justified and saved because of you.  May your spirit uplift us to learn to regain strength by faith, not by our own might or our action.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!