Of Faith Or Of the Law?

Paul say’s in Galatians 3:9, “So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith [Lit., ‘the believing one, the trusting one’],” v. 9.  The emphasis in v. 9 is on the fact that “those who have faith”— which is just another way of saying anyone in the Kingdom of God, everyone in the Father’s Family— are “blessed” with the salvation of their souls, just like Abraham, rather than those who depend on ‘good works,’ ritualistic righteousness, and meticulous rule-keeping, like the Judaizers.

Notice what he says next.  This is powerful stuff for those who refuse to acknowledge the difference between Law and Love as the motive behind the madness we call Apprenticeship to Jesus, between those who so desperately want to live out of duty {as well as imposing it on everyone else!} and those of us choosing to live out of desire.  This is directed at those who were mutilating not only the Gospel of Grace but the very souls of men and women by their demands of circumcision for salvation and obedience to the Law for intimacy with Abba.  So... legalists, fundamentalists, denominationalists, and modern-day Pharisees of whatever persuasion, listen up!  Here’s a challenge for you.

“All who rely on observing the Law are under a curse, for it is written [Quoting Deut. 27:26]: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law,’” v. 10.  Paul’s saying exactly the same thing he says in a number of other places: if you take one part of the Law you have to take the whole thing; if you keep one part of the Law as your standard for true holiness you must keep every aspect of the Law, all 613 or so commands.  Which is something only one Man in His-Story has ever been able to do.  I have yet to see any legalist, anywhere, meet this standard.  Not only this, in my 44 years of life-experience on this Earth, I have yet to see any Law-laden, rule-ridden control-freak or wannabe ‘cult leader’ actually meet the standard they so readily impose on others.  How ‘bout that for powerless and ineffective?

If it works so well, then why can’t you do it?  If this ‘system’ you’ve devised for the rest of us is healing hearts and restoring lives, if it’s forging men and women into passionate lovers of God and compassionate lovers of people, if it is transforming the wounded and the weary into stalwart Soldiers of the Faith, if it is molding the Children of God into the image of their Abba, if husbands are loving well their wives and wives are honoring their husbands with respect, if parents are tender yet firm, wise yet funny with their little ones, and those same children are not disrespectful and arrogant toward their parents, if friends and fellow-soldiers are asking forgiveness of each other, if fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, are seeking forgiveness as the ‘relational healer’ of their Stories, if courage and conviction surrounded by compassion are taking deep root in the souls of the Saints, then by all means keep it up.  But if not ...then maybe you better rethink this whole scheme you’re selling.  Maybe you better go back to Paul’s Letter to the Galatians and whosever’s Letter to the Hebrews and start over.  At Ground Zero.  On the solid ground of grace and love.

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
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Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously