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