With Jesus, It Is Done
The Trap of “Do More” Religion
Paul’s words in Galatians 3:1–4 are strong because the church had started to drift. He asks, “Who has bewitched you?” They began their walk with Christ by faith, but now they were trying to finish it through works. Paul reminds them—and us—that salvation starts and ends with Jesus.
Other religions say, “Do more. Try harder. Keep the rules, and maybe you’ll make it.” But with Jesus it is done. He finished the work of salvation on the cross. We don’t obey to earn salvation; we obey because we already have it.
This is why Galatians 2:16 is so clear:
“A person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.”
The Christian life is not about piling on good works to try and earn God’s love. It’s about living in the joy of already being loved and saved by Him.
With Jesus It Is Done—And That Changes Everything
Romans 8:8–11 explains why this is so freeing. Verse 8 says, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” That means no amount of religious effort can get us into right standing with Him. Only Jesus can do that.
The moment we put our faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. This isn’t something we work for; it’s something God gives. Verse 11 says:
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ will also give life to your mortal bodies.”
That’s the life-changing reality—our obedience now flows out of love, not out of fear. We serve, we give, we share the gospel, not because we’re trying to earn salvation, but because we already have it.
The Joy of Serving God Freely
When you realize with Jesus it is done, serving Him becomes a joy instead of a burden. You’re no longer thinking, “I have to do this or God won’t love me.” Instead, you think, “I get to do this because God already loves me.”
That’s a huge difference. It means we can stop worrying about measuring up and start focusing on growing closer to Jesus. We can share the gospel because we want others to experience the same freedom. We can obey because it’s a way to say “thank You” to the One who gave His life for us.
Resting in His Finished Work
Paul’s warning to the Galatians still applies today. We must not let religious pressure pull us back into a “do more” mindset. That road only leads to frustration and pride.
Instead, we rest in what Jesus has done. We keep our eyes on Him. We live by the Spirit. And we serve with joy. Because salvation isn’t about what we do—it’s about what He has already done.
With Jesus, it truly is done. And that’s the best news we can share with the world.
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