Why Reason fails us when it comes to the Gospel

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.... For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love..... For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ." Galatians 5:1-13

Reason has capacity to run life in this world. The power of reason--and it is powerful—then deludes us into thinking it can also evaluate the divine gifts. It is a confusion that happens naturally. This is similar to the confusion that many men experience when they realize that hammer will drive a nail very well. They conclude from that that a hammer can fix anything, as many a wife has found out from bitter experience.
Reason is great for knowing the law, not so hot for applying the gospel. But we must declare it incompetent to evaluate our spiritual life with its enormous gifts and liberty. Only the Holy Spirit can free us from bondage to the elements of the world (Gal 4:3).
The cross of Christ is a wholly different order of business from the business of reason. In the realm of the spirit the law only binds us, disrupts our liberty, and breaks our fellowship with God. Our Father has given us His kingdom with all of its rich blessings.
All reason can do is point out that God has no rational basis to be so generous and according to our reason that is true.
But the cross and the gospel are the message, not of what the law would permit, but what God has freely given to poor sinners, entirely because they have deserved its blessings in Christ alone.
The work of another is the content of the gospel, never our own.
Our own work has absolutely no bearing on the relationship which God has created with us through His own dear Son. Go be Free.

Rev. Scott Murray
MemorialMoments.org

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