Hope Alliance Bethlehem

After the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, three young men found themselves in exile - a whole new world with all new challenges.  They even found themselves on the very precipice.  And yet, their faith preserved them in the midst of their fear.  Like them, we can have hope in the midst of real struggle and separation.

The eyewitnesses accounts of the centurion and Mary to the crucifixion and resurrection are so informative to us.  They show us the significance of a real encounter with Jesus that leads to a whole new identity and mission.  By the Scriptures, we too are eyewitnesses called to bear witness to a waiting world.

To finish his later to the Galatians, Paul takes the pen himself to write the conclusion.  Those who oppose the gospel boast in their fleshly self-effort, but Paul aimed to boast only in the cross.  It is the cross of Jesus that bestows new creation and the experience of mercy and peace.

Our view of ourself drastically affects our relationships with others.  A flesh-centered view leads to love of self and ends up in provoking and envying others.  A gospel-centered view leads to love of others and moves towards them with humility and boldness.

There is an ongoing battle in the life of the Christian between the flesh and the Spirit.  The flesh is our sinful self that craves control, power and the right to be king.  The Spirit glories Jesus as the rightful King.  It is only through the power of the Spirit and the internal, transforming work of the gospel that the fruit of the kingdom of Jesus is manifest in our life.

Religion has no power to gain us access to God or to transform us.  It is on the gospel that can set us free into God's family and unto a whole new experience of life.  So, stand firm in this gospel!

In Israel's history, Abraham famously had two sons.  Ishmael was born out of human effort, but Isaac was born out of God's promise.  Paul uses this example allegorically to show us that faith in human effort leads to slavery, while faith in the gospel leads to freedom.

Paul, as their founding pastor, offers a plea for the Galatians who he clearly loves.  His desire is that they would not fall trap to idols, even religious ones, but rather that they would be formed in Christ.  Like the Galatians, these are things we should be zealous for as well.

The glorious truth of the gospel is that in Christ Jesus we are all children of God through faith.  What was once just a promise hoped for has now been fulfilled and realized by Jesus' redemption of humanity.  And for those who embraced this gospel, the call is to regularly and intentionally clothe ourselves in it.

Paul makes it very clear that the promises of God have always been the point, not the Law of Moses.  But if that's the case, what was the Law for?  Was it a trick?  Was it simply to preoccupy the Israelites' time?   Paul helps the readers understand here (and in Romans) that the Law served a good purpose in guiding us to see what a life devoted to God should look like...but also convicting us that we could never do that on our own.  Praise God that the promises come true in Jesus and the indwelling of his Spirit in us.