GALATIANS 2:15-16

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. – Galatians 2:15-16

When Pastor Steve went deep into the language of these two verses from Sunday’s sermon, he pointed out the many ways that faithful Christians have turned identity into a salvation issue. Whether Catholic vs Protestant, Norwegian vs Swedish, European descent vs. African descent, or even Easter at the Lake vs Easter on the Hill, we all tend to think our own ethnicity, background, or personal style is the best way to do it.  

There’s nothing wrong with joy in your identity, pride in who God made you to be, or having a sense of self. There’s something very big wrong when we assume that it’s not only the best way to do or be, but worse still, it’s God’s command for how to live. As Pastor Steve said it, we like to claim: “You have to be like us to be considered a true disciple of Jesus”. When you hear it spelled out like that, you realize exactly how wrong the sentiment is. 

In this passage of Galatians, Paul is trying to point out exactly that. He speaks in frustration and horror about the attempt to put cultural, societal expectations on Gentile Christians. While the believers who were ethnically and culturally Jewish followed a set of laws that made them who they were, the Gentiles had completely different expectations and behaviors. Some Jewish Christians equated those different practices and habits with sinfulness and lawlessness, attributes they couldn’t possibly affiliate with a follower of Jesus. Paul points out that these expectations aren’t issues of salvation. The one salvation issue is faith in Jesus Christ. 

When we take preferences, style, culture, or background and make it a salvation issue, we defame the gospel. Faith in Jesus Christ can be expressed whether Catholic or Protestant, Norwegian or Swedish, white or Black, traditional worshiper or contemporary worshiper. All these expressions of faith are beautiful – but they aren’t faith itself. True disciples of Jesus come in all backgrounds, races, traditions, identities, genders, worship styles, and origins. What calls us together is faith in Christ alone, in whom we find our primary identity.

Let us pray:

Call us together, God. Help us to see the beautiful and life-giving variety of all your people. However we worship or practice, make us faithful to the gospel of your Son and authentic to how we live our faith right where we’re at. May your praises come from around the world in all styles and languages, now and always. Amen.