Blessed are the meek and justification by faith alone

We discussed on Sunday morning how being meek is the natural response to understanding we are poor in spirit and then also mourning our sins. On Sunday evening we began to discuss the Letter to the Galatians and that Paul’s main point in writing this letter was to correct the Galatians on the issue of justification by faith alone. These two issues go together. Because we are justified by faith alone, there is no place for boasting, which would be the opposite of being meek.

Another way of saying it would be that we are meek because we are justified by faith alone, and therefore, there is no reason for us to boast in ourselves. The only place for us to boast is in the cross of Jesus Christ. It is Jesus who deserves the praise and glory, because He paid the price for our sin. Paul said it this way, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8 ESV)

When we live daily in the knowledge of Christ’s grace and mercy toward us, we truly begin to live! So be meek; it’s a good thing.