How Can We Live Up To God’s Expectations?

Hi, actually, that’s a huge part of why He sent Jesus (or why God the Son came to earth) – because He knew we couldn’t fair off against the devil.

The Law Was Supposed To Serve As the Nanny

The Apostle Paul talked about in Galatians that the Law was never meant to be a means of salvation, but more of a standard at which God expected His people to live up to – or the best they could anyway. The word Paul uses is different in many translations, but the word in the Greek points to something like a “nanny” – somebody that takes care of and brings up children. It’s like, if you ever watch those old movies where the nanny stays with the children, brings them up, teaches them the rules and standards at which they must live up to, then when they get to a certain age, the parents take over. The Law was supposed to serve as the nanny, and the time when the “children” (Children of God, really) grew up enough to not need it anymore would be when the Messiah arrived.

Breaking the Law Was Sin

Now, the Messiah did finally arrive, but not only as the nanny, but as the fulfillment of the Law. And if one puts their faith in the Messiah, then they will be freed from the burdens of the Law, which as you said yourself, was impossible to fully obey. Breaking the Law was sin, and sin’s penalty was death. So when Jesus died on the cross, He fulfilled the needed blood sacrifice for the atonement of sins – one just need to put their faith in Him and His message to receive this atonement. And when Jesus was raised from the dead, He opened the door to all who wish to receive His generous offer of salvation through faith in Him.

Jesus Already Did That

So God doesn’t expect us to be perfect and defeat the devil, Jesus already did that. What God does expect (and hope) from us is that we quit rebelling against Him, humble ourselves and turn to Him, which is now possible through Christ Jesus our Lord.

49

SHARES

Share on Facebook

Tweet