English Standard Version
One can almost feel Paul's sense of loss and grief. Here's a community of people who started out their life in the church as a congregation that joyously received the gift of faith. They heard the good news that Jesus had died for them, that God had done everything necessary to secure salvation for them, and they rejoiced together.
And then someone came along and whispered in their ears, leading them to question if God was really trustworthy, if what God had done was truly enough. They started to doubt, started to wonder, and soon they were thinking they were good enough if they had faith and also did this or that. Faith was great, but was it truly enough?
Paul is telling them, and telling us, that faith is sufficient. What Christ has done is enough for your salvation. Nothing more is needed.
It's a hard thing to live into, because our culture is always telling us that we're accepted based on what we've done and what others think of us. But the Gospel tells us that it's all about Christ and what he has done for you and for me.
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