Back to Slavery

October 7, 2020 Galatians 4:8-5:1 Why?  What are you thinking?  These two questions come up frequently when we look at the actions of the Israelite's.  These are the same questions I ask my children.  When one of them has a scissors going after our leather couch.  When one of them sneaks the computer into their …

Heirs Not Slaves

October 6, 2020 Galatians 3:23-29 Paul wants to make sure we are not held captive under the law; we are not prisoners but we are free through faith.  We are Christ’s. We are heirs, not slaves. More than once, my children have accused me of being a slave driver and themselves the slaves.  They have …

Why then, was the law given at all?

October 5, 2020 Galatians 3:19-29 David was the man who is called “a man after God’s own heart.”  In the Psalms, he speaks about loving the law of his Lord. (Psalm 119:97)  How was David a man after God’s own heart?  Because Christ began a good work in him and Christ was going to see …

Forgiven Therefore Free: The Promise Came First

October 1st, 2020 God gave his people a promise.  Four hundred and thirty years later, God gave the law. The promise came first.  The gospel promise was not a backup plan; it was always the plan.  The people of the Old Testament looked forward to when the promised Messiah would come, while we look back …

Forgiven Therefore Free: The Righteous Shall Live By Faith

September 30th, 2020 We are justified by the work, life, death, and resurrection of Christ.  God sees us as He sees Jesus: perfect.  I look at my life and see anything but perfection.  I see anger, jealousy, overindulgence, the list goes on and on. At times I also see God at work because “the righteous …

Forgiven Therefore Free: Found and Perfected

September 29, 2020 Galatians 3:1-14 The people of the Bible did good things.  The people of the Bible did foolish, awful, sinful things. Noah built a boat to save him and his family.  As soon as his feet hit dry land, he got to work on building a vineyard.  It must have been good wine …

Forgiven Therefore Free: Rebuilding the Law, Mending the Curtain.

September 28, 2020 Galatians 2:15-21 God’s desire has always been to dwell with us.  He created us; He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden.  Adam and Eve desired to know all and do all apart from God.  While we cause the chasm, God works to build the relationship between us and Him.  We …

Forgiven Therefore Free: Galatians 2:15-3:18

September 27th, 2020 Galatians 2:15-3:18 In this section of Galatians, Paul asks some revealing questions: "Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?" "Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" "Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by …

Forgiven Therefore Free: Eager to Remember the Poor

September 24th, 2020 Galatians 1:11-2:14 In the middle of Paul giving his life story, defending who he is, where his message came from, and the truth of the message he proclaims, “Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”  It stands out. It isn’t a rundown of …

Forgiven Therefore Free: Paul’s Life Story

September 23, 2020 Galatians 1:11-2:14 Paul giving the people of Galatia his travel itinerary was more than something akin to going through vacation slides in his living room.  He was establishing who he was, who his message was from, who he was in fellowship with, and defining the message he was given and proclaiming. The …