God promised. God delivered. Just believe. Galatians 3:21-23

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Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For  if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.  But the Scripture  imprisoned everything under sin, so that  the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given  to those who believe.  Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law,  imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

I really needed to hear this passage yesterday, and today, and I am sure tomorrow, too. It captures the amazing truth of the Word! Believe the good news: Jesus Christ is risen, the miracle of miracles! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Paul's letter to the Galatians is so incredibly important. Too often we get bogged down in the Law, which reminds us of our failures. We should read Galatians frequently because Paul spells out our salvation in such simple terms: We are saved by faith, not works! Jesus obeyed the law for you, so that you will be covered by his righteousness. Jesus died for you, too, so that through his blood, you will be covered by his righteousness. And more importantly, Jesus rose from the dead for you, showing us that sin, which leads to death, has been defeated!

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

It's true that the whole Bible shows us that we are saved by faith. God declared it to Abraham (Gen. 15:6). God declared it to Moses (Deut. 4:31). God declared it through all of the Old Testament stories. God declared it through the prophets. God declared it in the whole of the New Testament.

And God declared it in person. "He who believes in me," Jesus declared, "will be saved." Good people don't get to spend eternity in heaven with God folks! Believers in Jesus go to heaven! (John 3:16-17; 6:40; 11:25; 14:16; Romans 10:13)

This is the truth that really matters: Jesus Christ is risen! Just as he promised (John 2:19).

If you aren't a Christian, you might be asking why is that important? Well, it's important because Jesus isn't like all the other so-called gods and saviors. Jesus isn't just another savior. Jesus isn't just a miracle worker. Jesus isn't just a man. Jesus is God! Jesus raised himself from the dead in the miracle of miracles, showing us that he had defeated sin, and therefore, he had defeated death. And he has promised that everyone who believes in him will never die.

And as Paul now hammers home in his letter to the Galatians: You don't have to do anything! God loves you so much that he is offering you a free gift of salvation. You can choose to live by the Law. Or you can turn away from your sin and turn away from death by facing the empty cross, recognizing that Jesus fulfilled the Law, recognizing that Jesus also took the punishment for your failure to fulfill the law.

You have been saved by God's grace through the faith he gave you because he loves you!

He is risen! Alleluia!

Hear the good news. And believe.

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