I read the phrase, works of the law, this morning, and the theme song from the TV show COPS popped into my head. Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?
Bad boys need to know works of the law ain’t the way to go.
By the way, according to Jesus Himself, all boys are bad boys. In case you didn’t already know, works of the law is just another way of saying things you do or good deeds. Or in street talk, you might hear stuff you does with the word stuff being replaced by filthy language, of course.
And the reason I say those so-called good deeds ain’t the way to go is because that’s exactly what Paul said when he wrote a letter to the Galatians. Here’s a direct quote:
“…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.”
That’s a crystal clear statement.
So, why do many, if not most, Christians seem to prefer the bondage of the law? I’ll tell you why I think they do. Because then it takes the responsibility of their sins off their own shoulders and sloughs it off to God.
But maybe you disagree with that. Maybe you believe that getting baptized, tithing your 10%, and doing good deeds in your community is somehow a “necessary” extension of your faith. It isn’t.
Those things certainly aren’t evil. And they won’t get you banned from Heaven. But they won’t get you into Heaven either. And calling them an outer expression of your inner commitment doesn’t change those facts at all.
So, my recommendation is to read Paul’s letter to the Galatians again. And be sure to ask the good Lord to open your eyes, fully, to his message. You might even see the Bible’s plot, twist and find…
Freedom
Faith working through love…
Let’s praise God for our liberty…
Christ paid off our debt…
Only in Him are we truly free.
Love leads into joy…
Law leads back into slavery…
God gave us The Way.
Just believe, and we’re truly free.
Freedom from the law that kills,
Freedom with our own free wills,
Freedom from the world of sin…
Just let Jesus in, let the joy begin
Share a hopeful grin, with the Lord “We Win”!
Praise God for what we can become
With our freedom.
What law couldn’t do
Jesus did with finality.
He rose up from the dead
And promised the same life for you and me.
So we have…
Chorus…instrumental…chorus twice © 2010
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