Ego

These men [the Judaizing teachers] are zealously trying to dazzle you [paying court to you, making much of you], but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is to isolate you [from us who oppose them], so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their favor. Galatians 4:17

Works sound right and it is easy for people to follow after them. Works seem to make more sense to us then Grace does. But works and laws actually take away from the glory of God. When people place their faith in trust in their works, what they did for God and not what our Father did through them, they are preaching anti-christ. It is a very humbling attitude that proclaims that we initiate nothing on our own. This attitude of humility has to be given to us from our Father, because it goes so contrary to man and ego. Wolves in sheep’s clothing will come into fellowships and they will sound so religious and they will sound so right. These wolves will say that our love for God makes us want to wear these clothes, not eat these types of food, make this graven image to show respect, and worship this certain way on this certain day. But the primary focus of their message will always be on human efforts and not on Christ, the power of our Father working through us. 

The glorious Truth is that the Holy Spirit will cause us to love as God loves, John 17:26. He will cause us to forgive and lay hands on the sick and they will recover. The Holy Spirit will cause us to believe as Jesus believes and serve as Jesus serves, 1 John 4:17. Our works will not limit or empower our Father for one second. As Paul wrote, our Father will actually work more powerfully through us when we are weak, Galatians 4:12-13. The only thing that empowers the Holy Spirit for us is Grace, and Grace is free and it is unmerited, Ephesians 1:6. When the Holy Spirit is given to a man, works will come, but the works are a byproduct of salvation. Our works do not bring salvation, keep salvation, or strengthen salvation. It is amazing how relevant the message that God gave to the Galatians is for us today as well.