Live by faith in the Son of God.

Galatians 2:19-21, For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

The law has a purpose: to clearly show us, if we are honest, that we can never fully measure up to its standard. Jesus takes it even further, declaring that even looking at a woman with lustful intent violates the commandment against adultery. Without Christ we are unable to stand before a perfect, Holy God; when we receive Christ, he gives us the power to become sons of God! He puts to death the old man of sin and raises and empowers us to live a new life. He saved us, not by our own works of righteousness which we have done, but by his own mercy. And he empowers us by his Holy Spirit to turn and go another way as did the tax collector who promised to give half of all he had to the poor and to repay anyone he had defrauded fourfold! That’s a change of heart!

Change my heart O God, incline my thoughts towards you and those things that stir my affections for you!

ESV Lectionary