February 14

Galatians 5:5

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Many of the Galatians suffered the delusion of seeking God’s favor by works of righteousness of their own performance. Paul repeatedly tells them that there is NO HOPE of heaven EXCEPT BY RECEIVING as a gift what Christ has done for us when HE TOOK OUR SINS on Himself and died in our place on the cross. This gift of pardon and of eternal life is received only ONE way. By faith alone. So Paul says in today’s verse that through the Spirit working in us, we exercise FAITH, and wait for the hope of righteousness. Righteousness??? In our case it seems impossible. But we need to get a complete view of the righteousness of Christ being PLACED ON US, just as our sin was PLACED ON JESUS. What a great, pardoning, loving heavenly Father we have who through Christ freely gives us all things, and what an amazing method He worked out to make us fit for heaven. A word of caution. A TRUE FAITH will always produce good works in Christ. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”. Galatians 5:25.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

"...what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30