Entering God’s Rest
“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit (by faith in Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary), are you now made perfect by the flesh (by resorting to works for Sanctification)” (Galatians 3:3 commentary mine).
The following is what a testimony might look like for someone trying to gain victory in this Christian life by what they do. Today has been a bad day. I have tried so hard to please the Lord, but failure has been the result of all my efforts. In recent days, I’ve prayed, I’ve fasted, and I’ve read the Bible, but victory escapes me. I have determined to try harder tomorrow. I need to fight harder against sin. I also will deny myself of some of life’s pleasure so that my life might be more acceptable to the Lord.
The above testimony comes from someone who does not understand justification and Sanctification. The individual is on a works treadmill, a never ending effort to please God by what they do. The result will always be failure. There is no victory in seeking favor with God through our efforts. What is needed is to get off the works treadmill and realize that we are saved and sanctified totally by Grace. Our works and our efforts will neither save us, nor give us victory in our lives over sin. We are not called to fight against sin. We are called to fight the good fight of faith.
“Fight the good fight of (the) faith, lay hold of Eternal Life (all by faith in Christ crucified), where unto you are also called….( 1 Timothy 6:12a).
We are saved and sanctified completely by our faith in what Christ accomplished at the Cross. We are “called” to follow Christ. His death on the Cross paid the price for our sins. He provided a complete Salvation. We are saved and kept by faith in His sacrificial death at Calvary. Our works will not save us, and our works will not give us victory over sin, or favor with the Lord. Anything we determine to do whether it be a law, works, or even Christian disciplines that we do to gain favor with the Lord will take us out from our secure place of Grace into Law. Law, any law, that we trust in will only bring defeat. If we go that way we have apostatized.
The Lord provided a complete Salvation at the Cross. We should pray, fast, read the Bible, and attend church, but our faith must not be in these things. Again, if we go this way we will be on an never ending, and failing, works discipline to please God and gain victory- a treadmill that only brings defeat, exhaustion, and discouragement. We must place our faith in Christ’s finished work and keep it there. This will allow the Holy Spirit to help us walk out our Christian lives pleasing the Lord and victorious. It is the only way.
If you have been on this treadmill of self effort, won’t you get off and rest in the goodness of God. Rest in all He has provided for us. We receive it all by faith – faith in Christ and Him crucified. As God’s children we have peace with God (Salvation) and the peace of God (Sanctifying peace). He paid the price and provided all we need in our daily lives. All we need do is walk in it. We must stand fast in the liberty that comes from resting in His finished work. Any other way will result in bondage.
“Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
Prayer Changes Things
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers…” (1 Peter 3:12).
The Lord hears our prayers and is faithful to answer.
Always Remember,
God Loves You!
Find podcasts of this article, and all the articles on this website on the “Here I Am Lord” podcast on Spotify for Podcasters, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic. Also, Here I Am, Lord is on Telegram.
Follow to receive email notifications regarding new articles
Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2026
Here I Am, Lord - - tqministries.com 