Sin is a powerful opponent. Even as a believer, sin still calls my name. Our culture calls to us constantly, and yielding to its call will lead us away for Christ. Sometimes its message is very enticing, sounding almost too good to be true. I hear it in the two sides of the political debate. Let the government handle it or individual rights to handle it. If we yield to the government we don’t take responsibility for our actions. If we insist on the individual we forget we live in a fallen, broken world. Both government and individuals must play a role in creating and maintaining a just and civil society.
At the base of this tug of war is the content of truth. Paul in our passage today lays out the necessity of holding onto the gospel message in its entirety. Small shifts in the Gospel make huge impact on the practical outflow in society. For Paul the small shift was the addition of a “doing” requirement for salvation. Not only did Jesus have to die for our sins and rise again, but in order for you to get the prize you have to “do” certain things.
Paul condemns this seemingly small change in belief and practice in the strongest terms possible. But why? Because it cuts right at the very heart of the Gospel. Nothing we do, no matter how good, noble, self-sacrificing, or extraordinary could ever bring God’s favor to us. Grace requires nothing from our side, or it would not be grace. So when Paul hears that someone is trying to add works to the equation, he jumps in and tries to stop it before it goes too far.
In our national debate I am all for individual freedom, but the problem exists that the individuals do not hold the same moral standards that would lead to a moral society. Some in our society believe that other people’s property is theirs, as is evidenced by the recent spread of “flash” mob lootings and thefts. And of the corporate looting and robbing. And of the abandonment of responsibility to raise children that you produce. Whole segments of our society now believe that someone else owes them something. So they don’t live responsible lives. They use excuses to sponge off others, or profit off their selfish desires.
For Paul the Gospel is centered on and wholly dependent of grace. That is what we have to offer to the world. God accepts us and then changes us because He loves us enough not to let us live selfish, unproductive lives. He makes us fit to live in line with His character and being, for that is where we will be for eternity.
The Arnold Journey 