Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart:
Galatians 3:2, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
To fully understand how God’s righteousness is applied to us, we need to see that it is related to hearing.
God’s righteousness is not only His procedure on the cross, but it is our hearing about it.
Galatians 3:2 and 5 calls this hearing “the hearing of faith.”
The hearing of faith consists of a hearing about the scenery of Calvary.
It is that kind of hearing that causes faith to come into being in us.
According to Ephesians 2:8, faith is a gift: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
The way this gift is given to us is simply by hearing about the scenery of Calvary.
God wants the appropriate response to Himself.
Faith is that response.
The way God secures this response of faith is by imparting it into us as a gift.
Furthermore, He gives the gift by putting us under a hearing which reveals God’s righteousness.
This is the significance of what Paul says in Romans 1:16-17: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
This is a righteousness of God that, when revealed, requires faith; and at the same time, while it is being revealed in the gospel, it gives and imparts the very faith that it requires.
Thus, faith in Jesus Christ is the faith of Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:22).
Faith does not originate with us.
It originates with our beholding the scenery of Calvary that reveals God’s righteousness.
When we are in the process of beholding the scenery of Calvary through hearing(Gal. 3:1-2), we experience the faith of Jesus Christ.
When we respond to what we are beholding and hearing, we experience faith in Jesus Christ.
Until Tomorrow,
With A Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
TODAY’S PRAYER LIST
Ashton Bateman & Family
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Brandon’s Dad
Dan Haines
Dr. Don Davis
Freddie May’s Mom
George Alexander
Jane Hick’ Mom
Jim Mabe
Joan Cronan’s Sister
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Michael Stanley
John McClain
Rodney Wiggins – Darlene’s Husband
Ronnie Palmer
Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother
Tom Witcher
Ann Sullivan – Paula’s Friend
Bentley Smith
James Garner’s Friend
Kim McClain’s Mother
Lonzo Christian
Ashley Burn’s Sisters
Bill Moody
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Greg Payne – Lisa’s Brother
Hanna Hall – Pray for Grace
Kenny & Nora Allison
Kimberly – Dustin’s Sister
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Paula Ferus’ Missionary Friend
Ricky Stubbs
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier – Linda’s Son
Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend
Sheila Simmon’s Cousin
Tammy Shellnut’s Mother/Dad