One of our daughters used to ask for a "peanut butter and jelly sandwich," but without the jelly. When I would clarify that she actually just wanted a peanut butter sandwich, she would correct me. She wanted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, just no jelly.
Some things just belong together.
Add cheese to the burger and ice cream to the pie, because sometimes more is better.
But not with the gospel.
In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul addresses a serious addition. Some believers were being told that faith in Christ wasn't enough. They needed Jesus plus circumcision. Jesus plus obedience to certain religious requirements.
Paul is clear, though, that Jesus plus something else means that "Christ will be of no benefit to you at all." To be sure, his concern isn't the physical act of circumcision. His concern is where people place their trust. When we start believing that God's acceptance depends on something we add to Christ, our confidence has moved away from God's grace.
Most Christians today don't contemplate circumcision. But we are tempted to add other things, like Jesus plus political agreement. Jesus plus success. Jesus plus church attendance. Jesus plus being a "good person." Jesus plus having all the right answers.
We love those kinds of formulas because formulas can be controlled. Grace cannot.
The good news of the gospel is that Christ has already done what we could never do for ourselves. We obey, serve, worship, and grow, not to earn God's love, but because we have already received it.
And if there was a chance you still weren't sure what Paul was saying, he breaks it down even more. He says, "The only thing that counts is faith working through love."
So, if you want to see if Christ is enough for you, stop trying to prove yourself and start learning how to love.
Stay blessed...john
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