What If?

...no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law. [Galatians 2.16b]

What if the church really and truly believed this statement by Paul? What if the church really and truly presented the Gospel to the world with this at the forefront? What if the church really and truly refrained from slipping "obedience to the law" in the fine print after salvation?

What if?

We have no idea because of our overwhelming fear (read, NOT God's will) always prompts us, once the salvation honeymoon is over, to remind new converts that, of course now, they will want to use the Bible as a rule book (or maybe as guidelines).

Is that really the message of the Bible? Rules? Regulations? Guidelines? NO! A thousand times, NO! NOT! NEVER!

Although the Bible indeed contains record of the suffocating laws given to the Jewish people, that is NOT the message. The message is Jesus. The message is forgiveness of sins. The message is love and eternal life!

Yeah, but...

Father, I am reminded today of just how poison the theology of works is. I am likewise reminded that this false religion (false holiness) is relentless in its constant attempts to rob the believer of genuine freedom. Help me today to walk in grace.