Download More Reflections on Obedience by God`s Grace Are you so foolish

More Reflections on Obedience by God’s Grace
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the
flesh? . . . Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as
being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.
(Galatians 3:3 and 2 Corinthians 3:5)
Once again, let’s reflect on previously studied passages that show how
obedience to God is related to His grace. Galatians 3:3 fits in this helpful category.
Our beginning with God was brought about by the work of His Spirit. “Not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us,
through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). We
humbly admitted our sins, casting ourselves upon the mercy of God. The Holy Spirit
brought us new birth, new life. This work of the Spirit is linked to the grace of God later
in this same sentence: “that having been justified by His grace we should become
heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7). Thus, starting out with God is
related to His Spirit applying His grace to our need.
Now, having experienced spiritual birth by the Spirit (by grace), would we be so
foolish as to think that we could be spiritually developed by the flesh (by mere human
activity)? “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made
perfect by the flesh?” The only way that spiritual growth can follow spiritual birth is by
the work of the Holy Spirit (that is, by the grace of God continuing to impact our lives).
These same terms are the only explanation for the development of obedience in the life
of a child of God. It must come from the Spirit applying grace to our hearts. “It is good
that the heart be established by grace” (Hebrews 13:9).
2 Corinthians 3:5 is another passage that carries this same message about
obedience. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from
ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” We are hereby reminded that Christians
are not the source of any godliness that is to develop in their lives. This would include
obedience. We do not have within our own resources what it takes to produce an
obedient life. Yet, we do have available to us daily all that we need to grow in pleasing
God and doing His will. God is to be our source always for all things spiritual. How do
we draw upon His comprehensive sufficiency? Humbly depend upon Him. God pours
grace into the humble heart (James 4:6), and faith accesses grace (Romans 5:2).
Heavenly Father, would You develop obedience in me the same way You brought new
life to me - - by Your Spirit, by Your grace. I again confess my need for Your sufficient
resources for growing in obedience, and I rely on You, Amen.