From my reading in Galatians 3 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

We receive Christ by faith and are to continue living our entire Christian life by faith.

Unfortunately, many people receive Jesus through faith but then stop trusting him to help them grow. They now think it is up to them to grow based on their own human effort. Paul addressed this issue in the church in Galatia.

“Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” Galatians 3:2–3

Let me ask you the same question…

After starting your Christian life by the Spirit’s power and by faith are you now trying to grow by your own effort?

Paul is telling us that not only should be receive Christ by faith but our entire Christian life is to be lived by faith! He is saying that we did not receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law, so why should we think that we can grow that way.

Keeping the law will never earn you favor with God.

“So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Galatians 3:11

It is only through faith that we can please God and grow in him.

I hope that this can be a reminder that as Christians our favor with God is not dependent on our effort but on our faith.

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