“The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way. The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Habakkuk had it right; The person who believes God is set right by God—and that’s the real life. Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping, a fact observed in Scripture: The one who does these things [rule-keeping] continues to live by them.” Galatians 3 The Apostle Paul
Over two thousand years ago, when life was much more straightforward than today, the Apostle Paul wrote, “The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way.”
The “moral program” the apostle is talking about is the “religious rule-keeping” in last week’s post. Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing and expecting different results? (The answer is yes.) Two thousand years ago, the religious rule-keeping didn’t get a close personal relationship with God, and (according to the insanity definition) it will not do so today.
Since that is the case, why is it pushed so hard in religious circles?
I believe the answer is two-fold. First, without a relationship, you must keep up the appearance of having a relationship. By this, I mean religious rule-keeping (at least in the mind of the religious) gives the impression of having a relationship with God.
The second reason religious rule-keeping is pushed so hard is its origin. Religion is a ploy of the adversary, the devil, to keep humanity from a close personal relationship with the godhead. Staying busy “for” God gives the appearance of being close “to” God.
The Apostle Paul calls this a form of godliness without the power of God. In one of his stories about the kingdom of God, Jesus talks about those who “do” these things for God, only to have the Lord reply, “depart from me, I have never known you.”
“The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him.”
Embracing what God arranges for you is far more complicated than dutifully following all the rules. It implies that you have surrendered your plans for God’s plans.
It has been my experience that God’s plans for my life look nothing like my plans for my life. I must decide which one I will follow. This is especially difficult when God’s plans seem complicated, unfair, and disappointing.
A close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, is far more than what you are willing to sacrifice; it is learning that his plans have eternal value. When the Apostle Paul tells his protégé, Timothy, to “suck it up and deal with it (Evans translation) like a good soldier, he is referring to eternal life, not the temporal (here on earth) life.
I think (especially in Western society) Christians have this Americanized version of following Christ. When everything is going well, the Lord approves of your life. However, when difficulty arises, he (the Lord) no longer approves of your life. (Based on that, I am in serious trouble!).
“Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Habakkuk had it right; The person who believes God is set right by God—and that’s the real life.”
Entering into what God does for you means understanding the eternal value of your life and purpose in God. Insisting on your way is childish behavior, while entering into what God does for you is child-like behavior. A close personal relationship develops a child-like behavior.
Believing in God equals being set right by God. Consider how profound this is. I believed then I was made right. Religious rule-keeping has it backward. Once I am made right, then God will believe in me.
The Apostle Paul calls “believing to be set right” real living.
Can you see the subtle differences? You come as you are willing to accept whatever God offers, and what he offers is “real life.” He does not require you to take a 13-week class to get close to him. He asks you to believe him to the best of your ability.
Think about it: which would you instead do, believe, or the 13-week class? Don’t get me wrong, the 13-week class may be wonderful, but believing is what God asks.
I believe that you can believe and enter into a close personal relationship with the godhead.
Join me in the journey; it will be life-altering.