Galatians 3:21-29
Faith Has Come

Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

New International Version

We consider the birth of the infant Jesus, and we marvel that God has come to the world in human form.

We consider the salvation brought by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we marvel that redemption has come to the world.

We consider how eloquently Paul wrote about how we have failed the standards of the Law and are justifiably condemned, yet Jesus saved us by bringing grace to the world.

Paul adds one more to the list: in Jesus, God brought faith to the world also.

We have heard and responded to the invitation that began with the Apostles, to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. We each must choose to believe, but we do not have sufficient capacity for faith to "believe" ourselves to salvation. This, too, is a gift from God, to take our feeble faith steps towards God and strengthen, develop, and perfect that faith in us. The truth of our condition was spoken so eloquently by a distraught father in Mark 9:23 as he pleaded with Jesus to heal his son, "I believe! Help my unbelief!" The truth is that the faith we alone possess cannot take a mountain and throw it into the sea, but when God takes our small seed of faith and multiplies it by the Faith God gives us, Matthew 17:20 assures us nothing is impossible.

God sent a perfect and infinitely powerful Faith to earth in the birth of Jesus. The impossible is given to us as those of us born in every race, lineage, culture, and time can become full heirs to the Kingdom promised to Abraham. The impossible is given to us as our death sentence for insurrection against the King is commuted and we are restored to places of honor in the court of the King. We who were lost now know we have been reclaimed. We who were unwanted now know we are treasured. We who know we have failed also know through Faith that our sins are forgiven, and God loves us enough to have sent Jesus to us.