September 6, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." — Galatians 5:18 · KJV

He who looks at his own character and standing from a legal point of view will not only despair when he reaches the end of his reckoning, but, if he is wise, will despair at the beginning; for if we are to be judged on the footing of the law, no flesh living shall be justified. How blessed to know that we dwell in the realm of grace and not of law! When I think of my state before God, the question is not, "Am I perfect in myself before the law?" but, "Am I perfect in Christ Jesus?" — a very different matter. We need not ask, "Am I without sin by nature?" but, "Have I been washed in the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness?" It is not, "Am I in myself well pleasing to God?" but, "Am I accepted in the Beloved?" The Christian who views his evidences from the top of Sinai grows alarmed about his salvation; it would be far better if he read his title by the light of Calvary. "Why," he says, "my faith has unbelief in it; it cannot save me." But if he had considered the object of his faith instead of his faith, 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 anxious care about present things; how can I be accepted?" Had he looked to the ground of his hope, he would have seen that the promise of God stands sure, and that whatever our doubts, the oath and promise never fail. Ah, believer, it is always safer to be led by the Spirit into gospel liberty than to wear legal fetters. Judge yourself by what Christ is, rather than by what you are. Satan will try to spoil your peace by reminding you of your sinfulness and imperfections; you can only meet his accusations by faithfully holding to the gospel and refusing to wear the yoke of bondage.