My salvation is not about how great I am. (Galatians)

1:6-8

What was happening in Galatia sounds familiar. Recent converts were being influenced by imitators who were preaching another form of the gospel. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." Paul was surprised that this was happening so quickly. Christ didn't teach several versions of his gospel. There is his gospel and there is "not another."

Paul was concerned that there were people who were actively "troubling" the saints in Galatia. The wisdom of men was at work. Changes were being made that would make the gospel more accepted and the new preachers more popular. These changes brought trouble by perverting the true gospel.

Paul makes it plain that, if ANYONE teaches any other gospel other than what he had taught, it was wrong and that person should be cursed. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

Again, there aren't several versions of the Lord's gospel. We must remember that as we witness groups of LDS members splinter off of the true church. There will be various rebellions happen in the near future. It may be a new church policy or the continuance of an ancient church policy that opens the door for apostates to gather support and leave. As we expect this, we will strengthen our guard. We know that the latter day gospel will not break forth from Steve who lives down the street.

Paul repeats himself in verse 9. "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." This principle is going to become more and more relevant as the world continues its decline.

2:16

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Paul is saying this as part of his argument to Peter that he shouldn't be asking the Gentiles to follow Jewish traditions.

We cannot earn our way to salvation. That's not how the plan of salvation works. If it's about the law, then we've got to be perfect. Since no one is perfect, that means we're all in deep trouble. Thankfully, it's not about the law. It's about faith in Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus Christ that we are "justified" before God.

This all sounds good but I think some members of our church have not quite accepted this. They feel the burden of being perfect. They are weighed down with guilt and shame about their weaknesses. Our salvation is not based on perfect church attendance, substantial family history completed, weekly temple attendance, perfect tithing, effective ministering, magnified callings, etc. There's no list that will be reviewed! Our salvation is based on our faith in Jesus Christ and our willingness to continually repent.

If we enter the next life with a reliance on the merits of Christ and a willingness to repent, we can become heirs of the kingdom of God. Our obedience is not the wellspring of salvation. Jesus is.

The key word here is repentance. When Alma was ordaining priests, he said, "Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people." Alma was attempting to simplify the gospel being taught. So am I.

If salvation is not based on obedience, then why is obedience important? Simply - the laws of the gospel are designed to:

• Protect us from unnecessary trials. Remaining chaste prevents how many of life's foilables? The Word of Wisdom prevents how many broken families and lives? Being honest and not stealing prevents us from incarceration. Honoring our mother and father protects us from making stupid, ignorant mistakes. In Gospel Topics, we read, "God gives commandments for our benefit. They are loving instructions for our happiness and for our physical and spiritual well-being."

• Facilitate our ability to be like Christ. Serving in the temple helps us to be more selfless. Magnifying our callings helps us to be more diligent disciples. Studying the scriptures helps us understand the gospel and the nature of God and Jesus. Tithing helps us to prioritize the things of God over the things of this world.

If we are obedient, we can be more productive in our efforts to repent and have faith in Jesus Christ. Obedience is a tool that helps us - just like scripture study or the Holy Ghost. Don't misunderstand, I am not saying that obedience isn't necessary to our salvation - of course it is. Having faith in Jesus and repenting is directly tied to the laws of his gospel. Jesus said, "if ye love me, keep my commandments." Being obedient is the best way we can show our love for God and Jesus. Our faith in Jesus can't just reside in our brains. Our faith must lead to action. As James taught, "faith without works is dead."

The point is that we can't get off track by believing that the power of redemption resides in the commandments. Our redemption comes from Jesus Christ. If we will simply rely on Jesus Christ (have faith) and be willing to repent (be continually humble) we can progress eternally to be just like the Savior. It's going to take a lot of time and a lot of faith and repentance.

2:19-21

"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." If we continually rely on Christ, there comes a point that our will is swallowed up in his. Our will dies. Eric and all of his willful actions can end. We can die before our death. We can be "crucified with Christ" and do his will in all places and in all times.

Christ's perfect example is pulling us forward. We are the ones moving our feet. We are not being pushed involuntarily by the commandments. If we rely on those commandments to push us, we are "frustrating the grace of God." God's grace is enough to forgive our weaknesses if we live by faith. It is God's grace that saves - not Eric's willpower to be obedient.

It's a hard concept to understand and it's taken me a long time to see how this gospel works. Understanding that our salvation is based on relying on Christ, not ourselves, gives me peace. It's not up to me alone. I don't have to attempt to be "whole" on my own. In fact, the only way that I can be whole is hand in hand with Christ.

Christ died for us. He lived for us. He paid the ultimate sacrifice. To think that my salvation is based on whether I swear or not sets his sacrifice aside. If it's all about me "then Christ is dead in vain."

3:2-3

"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" It is our faith in Jesus Christ that makes our chests burn with the confirmation of the Holy Ghost. It is faith in Jesus and not our works that bring the Spirit.

Paul wants to make this point clear: we are not made perfect through our works! It is through no work of the flesh. It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ.

3:7

"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." This is a big deal. This is a big change. Paul, a Jew, is telling them that they can be the children of Abraham through faith. The Jews had separated themselves from the rest of the world and called them unclean. The House of Israel was chosen. They were special. Others were beneath them. It was different now. It is their faith, not their blood, that is uniting them.

We should feel exactly the same way for other Christians. There should not be one hint of belief that we are special and they are not. We are just lucky.

3:10-11

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." If it is through obedience to the commandments that we are saved, we are all cursed. No one makes it through life being perfectly obedient.

"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." We will be justified through faith in Jesus Christ - not through obedience. The law has no power to raise us up from this sinful plane to a higher level. There is only this pull upward from our faith. The grace of God is what lifts us, not the commandments. In other words, it is Jesus Christ that saves us - not ourselves.

3:16, 18

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Part of the Abrahamic covenant is that all God's children would be blessed through the seed of Abraham. Jesus was from the line of Abraham. The promise is that all nations would be blessed through Jesus Christ. Abraham's infinite inheritance would be through Christ. That was the promise.

If the promise was that Abraham's children would save themselves through obedience to the law, that's different. That isn't the promise. "For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise."

3:22-26

Again, we have all sinned. Everyone. "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." It is essential that we believe in Jesus Christ. The promise made to Abraham is about Jesus Christ.

"But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." This is the point of the commandments. The people had to learn basic discipline. They had to be prepared to live the higher law by living for a very, very long time under the Mosaic law. Every ordinance of the law of Moses was designed to point to Jesus Christ. The Jewish people didn't realize that the law was preparatory - not something to be worshipped. They began to worship the law and the rituals rather than use the law to tune their vision to recognize the Messiah when he came.

"But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." We all want to be children of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. How is that done? Paul is very clear that it is "by faith in Christ Jesus." It couldn't be more clear.

Does this mean that we are done with the commandments? Of course not! We still live BY the commandments - we just don't live FOR them. The commandments help us know when we're stepping off of the righteous path. The commandments are the path beneath our feet - not the light up ahead.

4:7

Paul illustrates the progression from the law of Moses to faith in Jesus Christ by comparing a young prince growing into an adult. While he is young, he is governed by tutors. Even though he is the eventual king, he is told what to do by regular men. Paul says that his heir "differeth nothing from a servant."

But, when he is of age, he is no longer a servant. "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." We shouldn't act like servants - waiting to be told what to do. Instead, we should act like sons and daughters who will inherit all that God has through Christ. We should act rather than be acted upon. We should move forward by our own faith - not by rules that prod us along.

4:18-19

"But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you." I heard a quote once about character being the ability to follow through after the emotion is passed. It is easy for us to feel pumped up by a great talk or inspirational lesson. We can, at a moment of exuberance, write up a list of goals with every intention of achieving each one.

The challenge is the next day. Now, the emotion has worn off and we are left to ourselves. This is when New Year's resolutions are set aside. When the excitement of the moment ends, it's sometimes hard to keep going. Not many of us have a life coach to can get us pumped up each morning.

Paul understands this. He understands that their enthusiasm is high when he is with them but wanes when he leaves. Paul is stressing out about it. "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." Until they are fully formed in the light of Christ, Paul is concerned. Until they finally receive Christ's image in their countenance, Paul will worry. They won't be permanently on course until they become members of the body of Christ.

Anyone who has served a mission or has had children knows this feeling. Until a convert or a child gets a strong testimony of the living Christ and the truthfulness of this gospel, there is naturally anxiety.

5:3-4

"For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Here, the circumcised were those who were following strict Jewish law. Those who are reliant on obedience to the law are essentially saying that they are reliant on THEIR ability to be obedient. The key to their salvation is their own selves. That's pretty narcissistic!

Those who do this aren't letting Christ take full effect. We are falling out of God's divine program for making us whole. We are falling from grace. We will not be shoved out of grace. God will not push us away from his grace. It's got to be something that we intentionally choose. Christ will have no effect because of our choice.

I believe it will be the same way at the judgment.

5:6

"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." In Jesus Christ, salvation is not based on the checklists of righteousness that we may have in our minds. Again, obedience isn't the source of salvation - Christ is.

What does matter is our faith in Jesus Christ and how we love him and each other. It is "faith which worketh by love" that matters. Both elements are important in our progression. If we have faith but no love, our faith is misdirected. This life isn't about having enough faith to study vigorously. It's not about having enough faith to build a strong testimony. It's not about having enough faith to be obedient. It's about having enough faith to love others unconditionally - just like our Heavenly Father loves us.

If we are meant to be just like him, doesn't this make sense?

That's not to say that scripture study and building a testimony and being obedient aren't important. Just know that those three things are a means to an end. They are not the end goal. The end goal is to love like Christ loves. Other principles are simply appendages to that singular goal. Joseph Smith said, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” (History of the Church, 3:30).

5:9-10

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be." There are those who want to complicate our testimonies. There are those who want to dissuade us from living the gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity. There are those who look to find fault in this religion.

A little discontent can spread - especially now with social media. In the past, if someone lost their testimony, their influence extended to their friends and family and personal associates and no further. Now, an offended member of the church can reach all four corners of the earth by a simple video posted to YouTube.

We are seeing a little leaven spreading like a virus. We are witnessing many personal apostasies happening all around us. All of the arguments I have heard against the church are the same. There are about five arguments that are very effective in pulling away those whose testimonies were built on the sand. Then, for whatever reason, these apostates will feel the need to convince others and can be very effective.

For those people, I echo what Paul said, "he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be." Paul is not talking about God's judgment. I think he would have capitalized "his." It may be that this judgment is the person's burden to bear. When I hear someone who has lost their testimony, I don't feel pure love flowing from them. Rather, I hear cynicism and negativity. They all appear to be carrying some weight of offense on their shoulders. There seems to be a chip on their shoulders that they can't quite shake off. I have pity for them.

These men and women "who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." It seems that, once blinded, these folks have a very hard time letting go of thise burden. I've attempted to have a reasonable conversation with some. I go to great lengths to understand their point. However, my words seem to be a different language for them. I see my point slipping right past their heads. It's almost like there's a force field around their ears. I don't mean to judge or be critical - I just think the word "blinded" is perfect.

5:13, 16-17

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." The gospel of Christ must have felt like a liberation. Suddenly, they weren't restricted by the burdensome law of Moses. They were allowed to do much more.

Paul warns them not to use this newly discovered "liberty" to sin. It's not an "occasion to the flesh." It's not a time to give in to our lustful desires. "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." If we use our freedom to follow promptings of the Spirit, we are basking in the light of the liberty that Christ gives. We are not burdened by the 613 laws of Moses. Our time can be used to serve, uplift, strengthen, teach and love others.

If we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we will not have time for the flesh. The Spirit and lust cannot occupy the soul at the same time. This is true in reverse. A lustful heart cannot hear promptings of the Spirit. Our natural man doesn't desire the things of God. Our natural man seeks only to satisfy our personal desires. "These are contrary to one another." When we follow the natural man, we "cannot do the things that we would." Those things that we desire to do that are in alignment with Christ are set aside when we give into what our flesh wants.

5:22-23, 25

When we get better and better at following promptings of the Spirit, we see our behavior changing. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." These are the fruits of the Spirit. There should be evident fruits of our life in Jesus Christ. If there are no fruits, we haven't fully been converted.

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." If we are living in the spirit, let’s allow the spirit to lead us in all parts of our lives. Our actions, not just our thoughts, need to be in the Spirit. This is where I can improve a lot. I'm really good about thinking spiritual thoughts. I can understand points of the gospel. But, putting that thought and understanding into action, that's more challenging for me.

6:1

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." This is good advice for all of us when we see that someone is struggling. Our approach should be meek.

I love that the word "restore" is used. Sometimes, when see someone struggling, we put them in a box of an addict or a pervert or simply weak. It is helpful to view them as a son or daughter of God who is divine that needs to be restored to their basic identity. If we view someone as divine, rather than deviant, it will affect how we treat them. It might even make us more meek!

It's good counsel to be careful to consider ourselves when we are helping someone else. Often, when we are helping a struggling person, we put ourselves in their situation. We may become exposed to their world. There is a chance that we may become tempted ourselves. The advice "meet them where they are" doesn't really mean going into the bar or dance club or chat room.

6:3

"For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." Most of us don't think that we are "nothing." But, we often think that we are something that we are not. Or, we may not be aware of a serious weakness. We might perceive ourselves as better than we actually are.

I think our biases deceive us without us being aware. Those biases can be about anything - including ourselves.

As always, the measuring tool that we should use is comparing our desires, abilities, performance with those of Jesus. We should be striving to be like him. Striving means assessing ourselves compared with his example.

6:7-8

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." In no case do we not reap what we sow. This is not about some heavenly reward system but it's about the natural progression of our souls. If we continue to be selfish and seek after pleasures of the flesh, that character continues into eternity. There will be a "harvest" of what we have done. Again, it's not about some report card but about what we will be willing to do in eternity.

Those who are learning to be selfless and being teachable will take that character with them. They will continue to be teachable by Heavenly Father until we will know what he knows. If we build our selflessness, we will continue to be selfless into eternity - where selflessness will be required to create and care for spirit children of our own.

6:9-10

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." It's hard to not weary in well doing - especially when you're not very good at well doing. It's easy to get fatigued with serving when we don't serve that much. An hour of service to someone who doesn't serve seems like a substantial amount. But, for the practiced selfless person, an hour isn't a special sacrifice. That could be a typical Wednesday morning. For my part, I have a long way to go before I can say that I don't weary in well doing.

Part of this is looking for opportunities to help. Opportunities to serve others are all around us if we have eyes to see. From a single church attendance on Sunday, we can discover 3-4 ways you could serve someone else - if you're looking.

6:15

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." When we are living in Christ, we become a new creature. The distinguishing feature is being Christlike. If we are a true disciple, our will gives way to the Lord's will. Giving up our will means that the old Eric dies. He is replaced by a new creature that has different priorities and goals.

We should all be working on becoming a new creature. I'm trying to identify the times that I am being selfish and lazy and replace that with being selfless and not wearying of good works. It's a work in progress and that progress is slower than I would like but I am progressing and that's what matters. I can say that my faith is no longer in myself but in Jesus Christ who strengthens me.