01/12/2024: Galatians 3:6-7 – Only those who have faith in Jesus Christ are the children of Abraham.

Thought for today – Only those who have faith in Jesus Christ are the children of Abraham.

Verse 7 contains a statement that must have been extremely shocking to the Galatian readers, “only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”  To the Jewish believers, this was contrary to all that they had been taught about the unique nature of their heritage as the natural sons of Abraham.  According to this statement, some who were Jews by birth were excluded from the family of Abraham for not having faith in Jesus Christ.  To the Gentile believers, the concept that they could be included as children of Abraham by faith set them free from the prejudice and exclusion that they experienced.  Here, then, is the truth of this declaration – Jews who have no faith are not the sons of Abraham, and believing Gentiles are sons of Abraham by their faith.  Unified by faith, Jews and Gentiles form one new body, the church, and are both equally sons of Abraham.

That’s what the Book says!

 

01/09/2024: Galatians 3:2-3 – We receive the Holy Spirit by faith, and we live daily in the Spirit by faith.

Galatians 3:2-3 (NKJV)

Thought for today – We receive the Holy Spirit by faith, and we live daily in the Spirit by faith.

If faith in Jesus Christ by the gospel is essential for salvation, then how can anyone convince you that your daily relationship with Him requires obedience to a set of rules established by men or the church?  No wonder Paul calls them foolish.  It is a logical contradiction to believe that faith in the gospel saves but something else is needed for strength or success in your spiritual life.  Devotion to tradition and religion will only bring pride, frustration, jealousy, bitterness, and failure in one’s walk with Jesus Christ.

That’s what the Book says!

 

01/07/2024: Galatians 2:21 – I am saved by His grace not my own “goodness.”

 Galatians 2:21 (NASB)

²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Thought for today – I am saved by His grace not my own “goodness.”

To say that a person can achieve righteousness on his own through the Law nullifies grace and declares to Jesus that His sacrifice was of no value.  I cannot imagine anything more absurd!  I will hold to His grace for my salvation and be eternally grateful for His sacrifice.

That’s what the Book says!

Galatians 1:1-2 – Don’t underestimate the value of good friends.

 

Galatians 1:1-2 (NASB)

1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), ² and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

Thought for today – Don’t underestimate the value of good friends.

When Paul wrote this epistle, the church was a new entity as a body of people who believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, that He died for them and that He rose again from the dead.  At this time, the New Testament was not yet written, and the doctrines of our faith were communicated orally.  The problem in these churches was that some men had come in teaching things that were contrary to what Paul had taught.  Since he was writing this letter to address such a serious issue, Paul was careful to mention the staff who worked with him so that the believers in these church would know that Paul was not alone in believing the doctrine he preached.

That’s what the Book says!

Galatians 1:1-2 – The gospel is our mission.

 Galatians 1:1-2 (NASB)

1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), ² and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

Thought for today – The gospel is our mission.

In this salutation, Paul used the title “apostle” for himself as a badge of his authority, which will be important throughout this epistle as Paul addresses the core doctrines of our faith.  His authority was not of human origin, not granted by men, but given him by Jesus Christ through His resurrection from the dead by the power of God.  Even in his introduction, Paul made it clear that Christ’s resurrection from the dead is central to the gospel, and he will demonstrate that the gospel is the cornerstone of our faith, and that a correct understanding of the gospel is essential for our life in Christ.

That’s what the Book says!