The Apostle Paul, in Galatians 2:16-21, reveals a foundational truth about our walk with God: we are not made right with Him through our own actions or religious rituals, but entirely "through faith in Jesus Christ." He declares unequivocally, "no flesh will be justified by the works of the law." This means that no matter how diligently we try, how many good deeds we perform, or how perfectly we attempt to follow rules, our own efforts can never earn God’s favor or salvation. It is a divine gift received purely by trusting in Jesus alone.
This powerful truth challenges some practices that, perhaps without intending to, can insinuate that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was somehow incomplete. Our church has been exploring this – for instance, when we fast with the expectation of coercing God to change a situation, or when we believe we need to purchase items prayed over by a man of God to secure miracles, or when we give money with the aim of obligating God to bless us. Such actions can subtly shift our reliance from Christ’s finished work to our own performance. Paul’s probing question resonates deeply: “For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!” When we treat these practices as prerequisites for God’s grace, we diminish the sufficiency of what Jesus already accomplished.
Instead, Paul describes a profound spiritual reality: “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.” This is the very essence of genuine Christian living. Our old way of striving to earn God’s approval died with Christ. Now, the life we live in this physical body is lived "by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me." It is a life of complete dependence on Him, not on our own rituals, self-appointed duties, or attempts to impress God.
As young believers and creatives navigating life here in Kampala, let us continually embrace this liberating truth. Our acts of worship, our service to others, and our generosity should all flow from a heart overflowing with gratitude for God’s undeserved grace, not from a desire to earn something from Him. Let us fully accept His perfect love and His complete sacrifice, ensuring we “don’t reject the grace of God” by adding anything to what Christ has already done for us. Our faith in Him is truly all that justifies and transforms us.