25Dec2013- Jesus Didn't Die for Nothing

How you doin? Merry Christmas! I trust that everyone has gratitude in their hearts since you/we are the reason for the season. Christ Jesus came here for me/you. The yard signs and bumper stickers that read "Jesus is the reason for the season" are nice, but they are a false teaching. Jesus came here so I/we may be free from the law, sin, and death. Jesus was never in captivity I was and sadly enough allow myself to still be. Stacey and I celebrated Christmas yesterday with the family... a wonderful time. Today we're just going to be receiving God's joy and peace... Jesus. Galatians 2.

Verse 2 starts with "I went in response to a revelation...". I love that. Revelation of Jesus demands a response. Paul was just being obedient. This chapter is AWESOME!!!!!!! The revelation that Paul received is that the law leads to death and Jesus offers us life. COME ON!!!!!!! The debate was over circumcision. Jewish law said circumcision, plus other laws were conditions of salvation, a.k.a. the old covenant. Paul was teaching that there was only one condition of salvation, faith in Jesus and the grace of the new covenant.

Verse 8, "For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles." The same God was at work in both men. So why the debate? I'm asking because I don't know. I'm guessing it's because of false teaching and human tradition. Perhaps the demonic spirit if religion that continues to pervert and corrupt Jesus' truth of grace, faith, and love.

Verses 15-16, “We who are Jews by birth and not "Gentile sinners" ¹⁶ know that a person is not justified by observing 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 observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." Again, the law leads to death and grace leads to life.

Verses 20-21, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”' HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!! & COME ON!!!!!!! I can't stomach the thought of living a life that renders Jesus death on the cross "for nothing". As we often hear during Christmas church services, the birth of Christ wouldn't be worth anything if it weren't for the death of Christ. Jesus' birth and death are worth nothing if I don't seek and receive His truth about who I am. If I don't live as though I'm free from sin. If I don't live in accordance to the new covenant that the amazing Jesus made for me. COME ON!!!!!!! I'd be jumping up and down right now if it weren't for my foot. I'll settle for a shout of praise. "Light" reading here today. Live under grace instead of law today.