Unity is essential for the church, as the body of Christ, to succeed in preaching the gospel to a lost world. The Western world is filled with fragmentation, most notably due to the Enlightenment ideal of individualism. By contrast, the church is meant to be a place where unity is encouraged and lived out, a haven where life is lived differently from the rest of the world.

Throughout Galatians, Paul has been arguing that, because of Jesus, the walls of separation are torn down and all are welcome to the table. This is purely based on the righteous of Jesus Christ. As Paul comes to the last of his letter, he brings us back to what's of first importance - new creation because of the cross of Jesus. 

Only one person ever lived righteously, and we must welcome his presence inside us. The fruit of the Spirit is visible evidence of the presence of Christ in someone’s life. And when we are led by the Spirit it's not like a pace car you must strive to keep up with, but a locomotive that is leading us in the direction of Christ-likeness.

Freedom is a special gift that should only be surrendered for the good of others. Often we are encouraged to give up our freedom by following rules and laws. But the gospel teaches us that we have been freed, once and for all.

The book of Galatians is wrestling with the issue of family--who can rightly consider themselves to be the children of God. In our text today, Paul argues that it’s not our ethnicity or family of origin that makes us family. We’re family because of Jesus.

In the book of Galatians Paul argues strongly that all attempts to supplement Christ by trying to help God do what only God can do results in replacing Christ. The written Word has one purpose: to lead us to faith in the living Word

No other gospel can do what the gospel of grace can do. It not only saves us from our sins, but it saves us for a life of freedom and service.

Each of us has a story–a story of brokenness, heartache, and pain...then came Sunday. Because of Jesus, our story can be one of healing, joy, and peace. That one event that happened 2,000 years ago changes everything. It restores us; it redeems us. Through his death, Jesus brings us back to life. 

Fire is a consistent sign of God's presence in the Old Testament. The burning bush. The fire on Mt. Sinai. The fire of the Lord on Mt. Carmel. And then on the day of Pentecost, tongues of fire symbolizing the presence of God's Spirit. 

In the beginning, God was personally present with the people He created. The rest of the story of God and His people carries the theme of presence, from the tabernacle to the temple to Jesus and now to the church. The question is, where is God personally present now?