Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Tim Keller, Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, and author of the recent book, ”The Reason for God – Belief in the Age of Skepticism”, has some great thoughts drawn from a study in Galatians. As we come to the end of our series, Sola Gratia, this is an insightful reminder on how the justifying work of the Savior defines who we are and what we are to become.
More Than We Ever Dared Hope
“The gospel of justifying faith means that while Christians are, in themselves still sinful and sinning, yet in Christ, in God’s sight, they are accepted and righteous. So we can say that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope — at the very same time. This creates a radical new dynamic for personal growth. It means that the more you see your own flaws and sins, the more precious, electrifying, and amazing God’s grace appears to you. But on the other hand, the more aware you are of God’s grace and acceptance in Christ, the more able you are to drop your denials and self-defenses and admit the true dimensions and character of your sin.”
Timothy Keller, Paul’s Letter to the Galatians: Living in Line with the Truth of the Gospel (Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2003), 2.
(Drawn from the web site http://firstimportance.org)
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