SWHW Bible Reading Plan: July 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Lauren Diggs:

Is your head spinning a little from all the law vs. faith talk going on? 

Well, let’s get some context to help us. 

Paul wrote this letter to the church people in Galatia who were living for Jesus but started to listen to some false teachings. They believed there were parts of the Law to be obeyed to be a follower of Christ. 

Enter Paul. He’s not having it. Right from the start (Galatians 1), he calls out the lies and points them back to faith in Christ. He even opens up Galatians 3 by calling them foolish! It seems a little harsh, but he was filled with the Spirit and speaking truth to them in love. They had gotten away from the basic foundation of the gospel: faith in Jesus. 

Can you relate? I know I sure can, mainly because of my very works-based faith background and my tendency to believe the more I do for God, the more of His love and favor I’ll receive. So, my brain goes into checklist mode, and if I can get all those things checked off, I’m somehow a more righteous or deserving Christian, forgetting that God’s grace is a gift and the love of Christ isn’t earned.

But this is why Paul calls the church in Galatia foolish! They started to follow laws and tried to live life in their own power. They were trying to earn God’s love and favor instead of living for Him through faith. When we do this, it’s as if we’re saying to the world that Christ died for no purpose. We had the Law before Jesus, so what was the point of Jesus’ death if we are still trying to earn salvation and grace by our works?

“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3

Basically, what he’s saying here is, “After starting your life as a Christian in the Spirit (through faith), do you now think your works will keep you and sanctify you?” 

Righteousness isn’t achieved by following rules and checking a box. Our righteousness is through faith in Christ and Christ alone. 

So, in the moments when we are striving after something that isn’t earned, or on the days where crossing off all the items on our to-do list makes us feel accomplished and worthy, or in the seasons of suffering where we wonder what we did wrong to be “punished” (*Side note: please know God doesn’t work this way and His grace for you is a well that never runs dry), we must remember God’s words to us: 

“For by grace, you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9

Works-based living rejects what Jesus did on the cross, but faith in Christ counts us as righteous in Him. A list of rules chains us down but walking in faith breaks through to freedom. Law-living whispers of a prideful heart, but living out our faith loudly proclaims the gospel of Jesus to others.

So remember this when you start to overcomplicate the gospel in living for Jesus: it is by grace, through faith, that we have life, not by any of our works or accomplishments. Rest in this truth, sweet friend.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of faith. Thank You there is nothing I can do more or less that changes the way You love me. Forgive me for the times I’ve tried to earn my salvation or Your love. And remind me quickly of Your truth when I start to work for it again. You are everything, Jesus, and without You, I am nothing. I love You. Amen.