Galatians 3:22-24 "But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." --NKJV In the name of the One Who justifies us by faith, amen.
In Wednesday's devotion we heard that salvation is by the grace of God alone, to be received through faith alone. We can in no way contribute to our salvation through our own works or merits. That is, we cannot help in gaining our salvation by doing the works of God's law. This is because the law works wrath. God has given us His law not so that we can achieve salvation by keeping it, but in order to show us that we cannot earn salvation by our own works. His law only accuses us of sin and corruption. It only shows us that we are sinners in need of a Savior.
Therefore, the purpose of the law of God is to direct us to Jesus, our only Savior from sin. He is the one who came to fulfill the demands of the law that we could not fulfill. He is the one who came to pay for our total inability to do what God demands of us by dying on the accursed tree. It is faith in Him, worked by the Gospel, that saves. The law knocks us down so that the Gospel can build us back up. Thanks be to God for this!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You that You have given us Your holy law to show us our sin so that we may completely despair of our own ability to save ourselves and be directed to Christ, Who is our only hope for salvation. We ask You, to always keep us in that faith by Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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