But for Christ…
Galatians 2:20-21 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
In Jesus our old man dies to sin and we live and abide by faith in Him. This is the mystery hidden from the beginning.
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Christ in us is the the hope of glory!
Galatians 2:15-16 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Our faith is secure in the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. He can be trusted! Everything that needs to be done is done…it is finished!
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Now it is known that this was written to those under the Law, the Jew, but applies to all of humankind. In the 10 commandments all are condemned under the law. They are the moral law. All are guilty and deserving of death and by them no one can be saved. If you are guilty of one of the least of them you are guilty of all of them.
2 Corinthians 3:6 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The law condemn us but the Spirit gives us life. Eternal life with our Creator in Christ Jesus is the only way. If the law brings death how much more Holy Spirit gives life.
Galatians 2:17-21 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
We are cleansed in the blood of Christ. We are dead to the law and set free in our faith in the work of the Cross. We will be changed precept by precept into His image. Christianity rests on the premise of love. John 3:16
Romans 7:4-6 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
We were created for the good works that were prepared for us from the beginning of time. Christ in us and we in Him. We are in a relationship with the One who loves us. His fruit will be found in us! There is nothing we can do to earn salvation it is the gift of God to those who by faith believe in Him. We live for God because Christ lives in us. Carla
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
An exact application of the illustration would be that the law died, and now the believer is free to “marry” grace. Paul’s words are that believers died to the law. Having died to the law, the believer is now free to marry God and bear fruit for Him. Out of the marriage relationship comes children. So out of intimacy with Christ comes the fruit of practical righteousness (6:22).
In the flesh refers to the period before the believer’s conversion. In this context, those in the flesh are unregenerate, or not born again, and those in the Spirit are regenerate. On the other hand, both believers and unbelievers may walk according to the flesh, but only believers can walk according to the Spirit. The law aroused sinful desires that were expressed through the members of the body and resulted in death. At conversion, believers died to the law, with the result that they are now able to serve in newness of life (6:4). They have a new life in the Holy Spirit, not in the old way of the letter, the old way of trying to gain life by means of the law. The NKJV Study Bible
Those who have participated in the death of Christ experience freedom from the law (6:4). The law identified sin, but it did not offer salvation or empowerment for obedience. Paul reasons that since believers have been freed from the law, they are also freed from its condemnation (8:1).
The Law in Paul’s Letters refers to Christ’s physical, crucified body. That we may bear fruit for God refers to good deeds that come from union with Christ (6:22). In the flesh refers to existence apart from Christ, under the control of sin. Paul uses the Greek word sarx, often translated “flesh,” to refer to mortal human existence; Paul often contrasts it with the spiritual freedom found in Christ.
The law identified sin and established boundaries for moral conduct—which ironically, because of people’s propensity to sin, resulted in more transgressions. The Greek text for members refers to a person’s natural faculties. Bear fruit for death refers to sinful deeds that result in death.
The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to serve God without the boundaries of the law. The letter refers to the law of Moses. Faithlife Study Bible
Sanctuary is a space where can hit the reset button. And hear the voice of Grace. And find rest in God’s sustenance.
I'm in favor of finding sanctuary, especially in craziness.
If we let craziness (noise) grip us, it gets dizzying, and we lose track of the music inside. But sanctuary is sustained by hearing the music—the music of grace and healing resilience—regardless of our circumstances. Why? Because the music is still there. Buried maybe, but still there.
Where are the sanctuary places for you?
It's tempting to give instructions. And suggestions are okay, as long as they don't become constraints. That being said... if instructions would be helpful for you, start with these five:
#1 – Be gentle with yourself. Give voice to your soul.
#2 – Turn off the noise. And pay attention. Even if only for five minutes. What do you see, hear, taste, smell and touch? Be here. Now. The gift of sanctuary.
#3 – Take a deep breath. Let it out, and say "thank you." Literally.
#4 – Don’t be afraid to let your heart be real and unencumbered.
#5 – Try it again tomorrow. Sabbath Moments
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