FAI Central

Paul consistently opens his letters with emotionally and theologically charged greetings; Galatians is no different. He closes his introduction with verse five: "to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." But what is the glory of God? How is it distinct to Him, and how can we know it?

Jeff and Steph grapple with the glory of God in episode five of THE BETTER FREEDOM, a season of The Better Beautiful devoted to Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia. This ancient text bears upon us today—in all the best ways. Listen now.

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father."

With these words, Paul deflates any prosperous dreams for a "best" life being available or accessible in this age—this "present evil age." But he does powerfully and succinctly identify the totality of all we are rescued from, within and without our interior lives. And this is the scandal of the liberty secured for us in Christ and offered to us only within Christ: we are truly free, and free indeed, to do *anything.* So how shall we spend our numbered days in this present evil age?

"Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me:

To the churches of Galatia.

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

Our third episode of 'The Better Freedom' finds Jeff & Steph in the middle of Paul's opening greeting to the Galatians. What are the grace and peace he wishes upon us, and what foundation does this have biblically? Already, Paul is drawing from his background—and pushing us into the future with him.

Listen to "Grace, Peace, and Glory" now

Jeff and Steph discuss Paul's firecracker opening in his letter to the churches of Galatia:

"Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead—"

Why was it appropriate and necessary for Paul to play a (very legitimate) "thus saith the Lord" card when it came to his own qualifications and authority to speak into the Galatian church community? Why did it matter—and what weight did Paul bear responsibility for before the One who assigned him to the task?

The answers to these questions are paramount as we proceed through the letter. Listen to "The Call, the Crisis (Galatians 1:1)" now.

DURATION: 36 minutes