But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, 

"Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law."

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 3:10-11 NLT

This appears to be the root of the problem that Paul is trying to address with the Galatian Church. They're being taught some kind of hybrid gospel that continues to emphasise the law, the rules, keeping all the rules all the time, perfectly, is the way to be right with God.

We can't.

None of us can.

Why is this such a problem in the church in Galatia? 

For the same reason it's a problem for us, it's what Tim Keller called our "self salvation project". We are tempted in different ways in our own cultural setting to believe we can do it ourselves, if we just put in enough effort, do the right things, we'll be acceptable to God, to be right before Him.

And as Paul reminds the Galatians, it's faith in Jesus.

This is a gift of Grace that we get to accept, not because we're perfect, but because we are Beloved.

Think of the person you love the most. 

Are they perfect?

Love is a verb, a choice, and we are loved.

#letters

#Galatians

#faithinJesus

#weareBeloved