Reflections
The Galatian Solution
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. (Gal. 5:4)
If Christ is of, “no effect,” to us, then from a practical standpoint, we may as well be separated from Him. Christ will not be our life. We will have carved out another life, based on law-keeping — it will be a natural, religious life. This is what happens when we replace CHRIST IN US with the keeping of laws as the means of living the Christian life. What could be more serious an error?
If we try to live on the basis of ourselves and our works, then we are deceived – and by definition Christ cannot be formed in us, because we are forming ourselves according to law. This Galatian error had only one solution. Paul said to them, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you!” (Gal. 4:19)
The phrase, “formed in you,” here could read, “inwardly realized and expressed.” This is God’s purpose in His people and the solution to all things – it is what happens if we walk with all of our faith solely in Christ as our life. It is NOT the product of religious works, or of any human effort. It will, however, RESULT in a life motivated by a desire to obey God