September 11

Galatians 2:21
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” —Galatians 2:2121I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21).
THE letter to the Galatians is the most vehement of all Paul’s epistles, written out of the fervency of his heart as he realized that many whom he had led to Christ were being ensnared in a system, which, while it professed to be the strength of holiness, was actually “the strength of sin” (1 Cor. 15:5656The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56)). In this letter he shows that believers are justified by faith alone, apart from the works of the law, and that to go back to law after one had been brought to know Christ, is to fall from grace (Gal. 5:3, 43For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:3‑4)). It is to drop down from the high standard of salvation by grace alone to the confused conception of preservation and final security by the works of the law. This Paul could not tolerate, and we may well thank God today for his strong stand against it.
“Not saved are we by trying;
From self can come no aid;
‘Tis on the blood relying,
Once for our ransom paid.
‘Tis looking unto Jesus,
The Holy One and Just;
‘Tis His great work that saves us―
It is not ‘try’ but ‘trust’!
No deeds of ours are needed
To make Christ’s merit more:
No frames of mind or feelings
Can add to His great store;
‘Tis simply to receive Him,
The Holy One and Just;
‘Tis only to believe Him—
It is not ‘try’ but ‘trust’!”