Gracehouse

When Paul is thinking about how Jews and Gentiles should relate to one another he is operating from a revelation of a new created order, beginning with Jesus. And so in this new creation there is no need for division because the two are made one in Jesus.

When it comes to beauty, there’s something about it that can be experienced but not explained. The mystery surrounding beauty points to the fact that it is connected to God, who is both the source of beauty and the ultimate expression of it. Tune in to this week’s sermon to find out how “beauty will save the world”.

With the way Paul argues against works of the law you'd think he was completely against the law. Paul understood the value of the law and how it might be used to bring wisdom. But he also knew very clearly that 'works of the law' never had the ability to save or change a person's heart.

As Paul continues to counter the false teachers in Galatia he brings some scripture of his own to bear. We examine for ourselves what is the difference between law and faith? And how does the promise to Abraham to bless the nations relate to the law?

Jesus, like teachers from his time, acted out what he was saying as he said it. Here in Matthew 21, Jesus acts out the message that the old way of dealing with sin was being replaced by something that would work permanently and be for everyone. Here is the basis for why we think the good news, is the good news!

When we live with our eyes fixed on Jesus, everything else in our life falls into perspective and right alignment and we experience beautiful freedom to be all that God has called us to be.

While Christians in some eras have been fearful of pain and actively avoided it (pain-aversion), in other eras they’ve chased it in the hopes of becoming more holy (voluntary martyrdom). But when we look at the life of Christ, we see that he neither avoided it nor sought it out, setting an example for his followers throughout history on how to suffer well.

No doubt there have been many a Christian who has started their walk with Jesus 'by the Spirit' but then has somewhere along the line adopted their own works into the relationship. But this is not the Gospel...and Paul wants to know who cast a spell on them (whether tongue in cheek or serious) that they would so easily get fooled into believing another Gospel.

It was a problem in Paul's day and it is still a problem today. Doesn't God being so gracious open the door for sin to abound? Certainly not...because we have died to the old way of life so that we can belong to Jesus and the life that he brings.

What does it look like to relate to God as a Father? So many Christians want to stay in a place of infancy in their relationship but our Father in heaven wants more for us.