Living by Faith
Law is necessary. It tells you what is right and wrong. We need an understanding of it for society to work cohesively, so we all know what is expected and required of us. The law makes very definite demarcations. You are either on the right side of it, or you are not. We are judged and put in one camp or the other.
Faith is totally different. Faith is a leveler. We can all believe. And when we believe in Jesus, we can know not just his love, but freedom from the law – being able to receive his forgiveness and the freedom that his death and resurrection bring.
Galatians 3:23-29
23 The Law controlled us and kept us under its power until the time came when we would have faith. 24 In fact, the Law was our teacher. It was supposed to teach us until we had faith and were acceptable to God. 25 But once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the Law as a teacher.
26 All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes. 28 Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman. 29 So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham’s family, and you will be given what God has promised.
The law is to teach is not save us – faith does that job. Faith in Jesus Christ as the one who could do what the law could not.
The law points the way, but it can do nothing for those who can’t get it right – apart from convict them. Faith frees us from what we can’t do, because Jesus has done it for us and hands us the prize he won.
That applies to everyone. To no one any more or any less than any other. So faith doesn’t just save us, but is the great equalizer too. We stand before God, each one of us, as someone who is on the wrong side of his law. People who have failed to live up to his demands and requirements.
But we also stand equal as people for whom Jesus has died and offers forgiveness. No one any more or less important than any other. All welcome into God’s family.
I am very grateful for that.
Thank you Lord
that though I stand here
as someone on the wrong side of your law
guilty of getting it wrong;
that through faith
I can be forgiven
and be part of your family.
Thank you that this is not just for me,
but for every man, woman and child;
that before you we are equal
– equally loved,
equally forgiven,
equally yours
Pam's Perambulation 
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