Begin by Faith, Live by Faith

The Christian faith is no place for legalists; not at the beginning, not in the middle, not at the end. This is Paul's contention in Galatians 3.3. The people who were teaching in opposition to Paul seemed to be arguing that, even if we began life in Christ by faith, we must keep the Mosaic Law as we grow in the faith. Paul's response? Wrong, wrong, wrong.

If we began life in Christ by faith, argues Paul, then how is it that we suddenly transition to being perfected by the flesh? We do not. In a sentence Paul's thesis is this: Begin by faith, live by faith.

We are not inclined to make the argument of the Judaizers these days; however, we are susceptible to the same philosophy. We preach grace, but we subtly live out Law. We are legalists at heart. It is an insidious sin for which we must ever be on the alert.