Growing in the Word

On today's program, pastor Jim continues his in depth look at Galatians chapter two. In order to really understand what the Apostle Paul is saying in this chapter, it's important to know what was going on in the churches in Galatia at the time. In a word, the problem was hypocrisy. The Galatians talked a good game, but they actually had let false teaching creep into their midst, and were preaching a gospel that contradicted the truth.

Today we continue Jim's verse by verse study through Galatians with a stop in chapter two, verses eleven through fourteen. This is a unique section of scripture to be sure, because what we see here is a confrontation between two of the real pillars of the post-resurrection Christian church, Peter and Paul. Peter was the guy at fault here, and Paul confronted him because he was guilty of being a hypocrite.

Pastor Jim Jarrett will underscore the gospel of grace alone through faith alone on today's broadcast as part of our continuing study of Galatians. We've just begun a look at chapter two, where we read Paul's passionate defense of the gospel. Are you prepared to defend the gospel of salvation through faith with the same zeal as Paul?

Today on the program, pastor Jim will takes us once again to Galatians chapter one, as Paul shares his own personal testimony of how Jesus Christ saved him . The people of Galatia needed to hear this because they had straying in their doctrine. They had been deceived into believing that some more than faith in Jesus was required for salvation.

Today on Growing in the Word, pastor Jim Jarrett will help us get a grip on the reality of eternity - and what is required for us to spend eternity with God in a place called heaven. In our study of the book of Galatians we are in a section that is biographical in nature. We are considering the first seventeen years of Paul's ministry.

The Galatians were Paul's spiritual children, and they had strayed from the gospel message Paul had taught them - salvation through faith in Christ alone. You can imagine that he was not happy, so he wrote them a letter - and that's what we are studying here on Growing in the Word. Pastor Jim Jarrett takes us to Galatians chapter one today, and more of Paul's stern words to the churches in Galatia.

As we continue in Galatians one today, we are going to continue to see Paul's angry reaction to his beloved friends in Galatia turning to a false gospel. Paul had taught them a gospel based on the grace of God, but they had turned to a gospel of works. Paul was thoroughly ticked! As Jim has mentioned before, this is the only letter Paul wrote that contains absolutely no encouragement.

The churches in Galatia had strayed away from the truths Paul had taught them when the church was formed. Salvation through faith was the corner stone, and the Galatians had listened to the wrong teachers after Paul had left, and now they believed they had to work for their salvation. That's the same false doctrine that many people are falling for today - even in the strongest Christian churches.

There have been some pretty massive one on one battles over the centuries. David versus Goliath comes to mind. You might also even add Ali versus Frazier from the 1970's. But today on Growing in the Word, we'll hear about a battle that was just as contentious, and surely more important that any boxing match.

Are we saved by faith, or are there things we can do to work our way to heaven? That was the basic problem going on in Galatia - they had been fooled into thinking that works would be enough. Let's join pastor Jim for the conclusion of his first message in what promises to be an awesome time in the book of Galatians.