Evening, September 6
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Galatians 5:18
"If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
Galatians 5:18
He who looks at his own character and position from a legal point of
view, will not only despair when he comes to the end of his reckoning,
but if he be a wise man he will despair at the beginning; for if we are
to be judged on the footing of the law, there shall no flesh living be
justified. How blessed to know that we dwell in the domains of grace
and not of law! When thinking of my state before God the question is
not, "Am I perfect in myself before the law?" but, "Am I perfect in
Christ Jesus?" That is a very different matter. We need not enquire,
"Am I without sin naturally?" but, "Have I been washed in the fountain
opened for sin and for uncleanness?" It is not "Am I in myself well
pleasing to God?" but it is "Am I accepted in the Beloved?" The
Christian views his evidences from the top of Sinai, and grows alarmed
concerning his salvation; it were better far if he read his title by
the light of Calvary. "Why," saith he, "my faith has unbelief in it, it
is not able to save me." Suppose he had considered the object of his
faith instead of his faith, then he would have said, "There is no
failure in him, and therefore I am safe." He sighs over his hope: "Ah!
my hope is marred and dimmed by an anxious carefulness about present
things; how can I be accepted?" Had he regarded the ground of his hope,
he would have seen that the promise of God standeth sure, and that
whatever our doubts may be, the oath and promise never fail. Ah!
believer, it is safer always for you to be led of the Spirit into
gospel liberty than to wear legal fetters. Judge yourself at what
Christ is rather than at what you are. Satan will try to mar your peace
by reminding you of your sinfulness and imperfections: you can only
meet his accusations by faithfully adhering to the gospel and refusing
to wear the yoke of bondage.