Bargain: The Best I Ever Had

"Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confirmed all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith, which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
Galatians 3:21-24

When I travel down the highway, I see these rectangular white signs with black letters and numbers on them. They are speed limit signs, telling me of what the law says is the fastest I can go on that road. When I am going faster than the sign says, the speed limit sign serves as a reminder of the law. Why do you think our automatic reaction when we see a police car is to slow down? Because the law reminds us of our guilt of not keeping it. The Ten Commandments are God's law. You can read them for yourself in the book of Exodus, chapter 20. When I read through them, I am reminded that, man, I certainly do fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Beloved, today when you are out there on the streets of your city, or the highways and byways of your community, think about the law. "No one is perfect," you might say to yourself, "even the pastor admitted to speeding and breaking the law." When the policeman pulls you over for speeding, that excuse won't hold up. We are all guilty under the law. So what then, is the purpose of the law? I am so glad you asked.

The apostle Paul is telling us here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that the law is perfect, and if godliness and life, righteousness before God, could be given by the law, it certainly would have. But get this: the law (the Ten Commandments) was given so that we would know that we were sinners, and in dire need of a Savior. If we could keep the law all by ourselves, we would. But we can't. We need a Savior. The law shows us that we are sinners and in need of a Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. "Yes, but I have never killed anyone." Oh really? Jesus says that if you are angry with a person in your heart, it is the same as committing murder. Lusting after someone is the same as committing adultery with them. And this day and age, covetousness, wanting what someone else has and not being content with what you have yourself, is idolatry. Ouch!

But there is good news, beloved. We are justified by faith. We are justified, made right before God, through faith in Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross. In Ephesians 2:8-9, we are told this amazing and wonderful verse: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast." In other words, we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. What does that mean? It means that grace (getting what we don't deserve), and mercy (not getting what we deserve), both of which come from God, are key to our right standing before God. It isn't the Cosmic Scale theory that so many today have, where they think, "If I do more good than bad while here on earth, God has to let me into heaven." That is false. We are all sinners under the law. And the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). We deserve to die. But through God's mercy (not getting what we deserve) we don't get death. Instead, through God's grace (getting what we don't deserve) we get eternal life with Him, through our faith in what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. He paid the penalty for our sin, and took our judgment upon Himself, as a substitution, so that we might live. What an incredible deal, right? Who wouldn't want that?

Beloved, God is madly in love with you. He isn't mad at you. He doesn't turn His back on you. He hasn't gone away from you. He loves you so incredibly deep, with a perfect love. Rest in that love today, and know that there isn't anything we can do that will make Him love us less. The One who knows us best (whew!) loves us most. Now THAT is a bargain. Shalom.