Simply put our good works done under the law, before
salvation, count for nothing. The reason for this is simple, we are a fallen
humanity. Every motivation we have is
corrupt because of our fallen condition.
Every motivation we have when we dig deep into it is selfishly driven.
We do good works for others to make ourselves feel better about ourselves; to
please God in hopes that they count for something on judgment day/our day of
death; to make ourselves look good before others; for a tax break and so, so
many other reasons. But after salvation the Holy Spirit working within us, even
though we may have the same motivations initially, changes us from the inside
and purifies us and our motivations so that our works are acceptable. In Ephesians 2:8-10 we are told that we are
saved by grace for good works that were appointed to us to do. So first
salvation by grace so we cannot boast about how we have saved or participated in
our own salvation then we do good works which God has for ordained that we
should do before we were even saved.
In this chapter Paul again confirms that if we put ourselves
under the law we are “obligated to obey the whole law.” Paul likens the law to
slavery and it is slavery. Because the law is a master who can never be
pleased. Our conscience will continuously convict us of sin under the law.
Whether the sin is great or small the law convicts us as unrighteous and
unworthy of God’s love. But grace, unmerited favor in the face of deserved
wrath, through faith in Jesus and His sacrifice gives us freedom from the
law. Paul is so adamant about the
Galatians going back under the law that he wishes those who are pushing for
their circumcision would “castrate themselves.” Is there any question about
what Paul feels about the law here?
In verse 13 Paul gets into the relationship between faith
and works he says, “Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge
your flesh, but through love serve one another.” He then again makes the point that
the whole law is really one sentence, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
When you think about it the Ten Commandments is a law of love. If you love your
neighbor as yourself could you steal from him? If you love your neighbor as
yourself could you murder her? If you love your neighbor as yourself could you
covet what they have? If you love your neighbor as yourself could you
disrespect your parents? (Parents are people too and qualify as neighbors.)
Jesus said in Luke 10:25 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all
your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind and love your
neighbor as yourself.” He then went on to tell the parable of the Good
Samaritan qualifying who our neighbor is. Jesus says the same thing in Mark
12:28-34 and Matthew 19:16-22. But the
best for qualifying what loving your neighbor really is, is located at Matthew
5:43-48: “You have heard that it was
said, ‘love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy’ But I say to you, love your
enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that your may be like your
Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love
you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? And
if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the
same, don’t they? So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Finally
Paul in his letter to the Romans 13:8-10 says, “Owe no one anything, except to
love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For
the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not
covet, (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law.”
More on Chapter 5 later
May God bless all who read this.
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