Don’t we at least get good marks for trying?

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:4)

If someone took a poll and asked Christians what alienates a person from Jesus, what do you think would be the most common response?  If I were to venture a guess, I think “sin” would be the first response for many Christians, including myself.

And, if pressed further, many Christians could probably rattle off a list of sins that are sure to separate us from God.  Some may even quote some variation of the top ten list.  You know, the “thou shalt not” list.

But I find it interesting that in the above verse God zeros in on something else that alienates us from Him - thinking we can justify ourselves in God’s eyes by obeying a list of laws or thinking we can earn His acceptance by all the good things we do.

When we talk about things that separate us from Jesus, I bet trying to be justified by the law is not on many of our lists.

After all, what’s so bad about trying to obey God’s laws to get closer to Him? Don’t we at least get good marks for trying?  Nope!  God said all that does is alienate (isolate, estrange, separate) us from Him.  Why? Because even our best efforts fall far short of God’s holiness.

It stands to reason that if trying to be justified by our actions will separate us from God, then the very opposite will draw us closer.  What is the opposite?  Knowing that we are only justified by grace, the free and unmerited favor of God.

John 1:17 sums up the contrast beautifully – “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Let’s not abandon God‘s grace.  When we do, we resort to trying to be justified by our actions, which only alienates us from God.  Instead, let’s cling desperately to His grace which draws us closer.