Grace and Goodness

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 2:21 KJV

Isn’t it amazing how sometimes we can get so caught up in the day-to-day, the to-do lists and the should-haves, that we lose sight of the core of what it means to be a follower of Christ? I was reflecting on this passage about righteousness and how it connects to expecting good things in our lives, and it really struck a chord. It’s something I think we all wrestle with from time to time.

The passage starts by highlighting a common misconception: the idea that righteousness is tied to our actions, a sort of checklist of good deeds that we complete to earn God’s favor. I know I’ve felt that pressure before, the feeling that I need to be “good enough” to deserve God’s blessings. It’s like we’re constantly trying to balance the scales, thinking that if we do enough good, God will smile upon us and good things will naturally flow our way. But the truth, as this passage so beautifully explains, is radically different.

The core of the message lies in understanding what righteousness truly is. It’s not about our perfect performance; it’s about Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. 2 Corinthians 5:21 puts it so powerfully: “For He [God] made Him [Jesus Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus Christ].” Think about that for a moment. Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, took on our sin, the weight of all our imperfections, so that we could become righteous, not through our own efforts, but through His grace. It’s a gift, freely given, utterly undeserved, and completely transformative.

This understanding of righteousness shifts the entire paradigm. It’s no longer about striving to earn God’s love; it’s about receiving it, accepting it, and letting it transform us from the inside out. Christianity isn’t about “doing” to “become”; it’s about “believing” to “become.” It’s a subtle but profound difference.

The passage then goes on to address the deeply ingrained idea that blessings are directly correlated to our good deeds. We live in a world that often operates on a system of merit. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. You do good, good things will happen to you. It’s a transactional mindset that can easily seep into our faith. We start to think that if we’re generous enough, kind enough, or involved enough, then God is obligated to bless us.

But God’s grace doesn’t work that way. His love isn’t conditional. He doesn’t look at our resume of good deeds before deciding whether or not to pour out His blessings. He looks at Jesus. He sees the perfect sacrifice on the cross, and it’s through that lens that He sees us. It’s a humbling and liberating truth.

The passage then brings up the crucial point about the cross. It emphasizes that trying to earn righteousness through our works is actually a rejection of the sufficiency of the cross. It’s like saying, “Jesus, your sacrifice was nice, but it’s not quite enough. I need to add my own good works to the equation to really seal the deal.” That’s a dangerous path to tread.

Paul’s words in Galatians are stark: “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” That’s a powerful statement. If we could achieve righteousness through our own efforts, then Jesus’ death on the cross would have been meaningless. It would have been unnecessary. It would have been in vain.

The truth is, we can’t earn God’s favor. We can’t work our way to righteousness. It’s a gift, pure and simple. And when we truly grasp the magnitude of that gift, it changes everything.

When we understand that our righteousness is based on Christ’s perfect sacrifice, not our imperfect efforts, we can approach God with confidence. We can rest in His love, knowing that we are accepted, not because of what we’ve done, but because of what He has done. And from that place of security and love, we can begin to expect good things. Not because we’ve earned them, but because we are children of God, heirs to His promises.

This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t strive to live a life that is pleasing to God. Of course, we should. But our motivation should flow from a heart of gratitude, not from a desire to earn God’s favor. We obey God not to become righteous, but because we are righteous. Our good works are a response to His grace, not a prerequisite for it.

So, how does this understanding of righteousness connect to expecting good things? When we truly believe that we are righteous in Christ, we can live with a sense of hope and expectancy. We can trust that God is working all things for our good, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. We can approach each day with the confidence that God’s favor is upon us, not because of our perfect performance, but because of His perfect love.

This understanding frees us from the burden of trying to earn God’s love. It allows us to rest in His grace and to live with joy and expectancy. It empowers us to face each day with the assurance that God is with us, that He is for us, and that He is working all things for our good.

This is such a liberating truth, and I encourage each of you to explore it further. Dive deeper into the Word, meditate on these truths, and allow them to transform your understanding of God’s love and your identity in Christ.

Explore Moralisee.com for daily devotions that delve into these concepts and many more. Let’s journey together, growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let’s embrace the fullness of the life He has offered us, a life of grace, hope, and expectancy.