Paul turns to the story of Sarah and Hagar to illustrate the difference between life under the law and life under the promise. Those who belong to Christ are not children of the slave woman, but of the free. His message is simple and urgent: stand firm, and do not return to the yoke of slavery. In Christ, outward rituals mean nothing. What counts is faith working through love.

The Rev. Robert Hiller, pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, CA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Galatians 4:21–5:12.

To learn more about Community Lutheran Church, visit www.clcfamily.org.

There’s urgency in Paul’s voice. No warm greetings. No slow build. Just a sharp rebuke: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you.” The stakes are that high.

Galatians is Paul’s bold stand for the pure Gospel message: Christ crucified and risen, apart from works of the law. When freedom in Christ is threatened by legalism or confused with license, Paul doesn’t hold back. He calls the Church back to the cross, to the promise, and to the Spirit. In this series on Thy Strong Word, we walk verse by verse through one of the most foundational and explosive letters in the New Testament. The message is clear: You are justified by faith, not by what you do.