Faith vs. the Law? No Faith Completes the Law!

Lord, even before I got into your word this morning you have been speaking to me. I was sitting here on the couch talking to my dear friend on the phone, my pup right here snuggling with me. My parakeet just kept flying over to my dog and pestering him. As a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, he was bred to hunt small birds. So it's his instinct to grab at my bird. He controls it for as long as he can and then he ends up lunging at her. She flies away but then comes right back to taunt him.

After lunging at her, my pup often looks up at me like he is saying, "Moma, do you see what she's doing to me?"

You spoke so clearly to me this morning and told me that this is a picture of what those other voices do to us. They love to pester and taunt us. But we need to keep turning and looking to you, saying, "Daddy, do you see what they are doing to me?"

Romans 3:31

Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Jesus, it's your Holy Spirit who guides us and helps us to fulfill the law. We can never do that in our own strength. Even so, we often fail. Thank you, that you have given us that holy reset button. We can come to you and confess that we sinned and are sorry. You are always ready and waiting to forgive us and restore that right relationship with you.

1 John 1:9

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

MEMORY VERSE

2 Chronicles 16:9a

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

2 Chronicles 16:9a

The Law

Psalm 44:5

Only by your power can we push back our enemies;

only in your name can we trample our foes.

Psalm 44:5

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Exodus 20:20

"Don't be afraid," Moses answered them, "for God has come to you in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!"

Wow, Lord, you spoke directly to all the Israelites to give them the 10 Commandments/the law. This didn't seem to keep them from sinning for long. It doesn't for me either. But the reason you gave us the law was to point us to Jesus and to show us our need for him.

The law can never keep me from sinning. Only my love for Jesus and gratefulness for what he did for me can do that.

Romans 3:19-20

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Accepted By God

Deuteronomy 33:26

There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.

Deuteronomy 33:26

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Romans 3:27-28

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

Lord, I'm so glad that there is nothing I've done or ever could do to be accepted by you. It is completely based on faith! I'm so glad that my relationship with you isn't tied to me obeying the law.

Romans 3:31

Well then, if we emphasize faith, does that mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.