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November 24th

The bible reading today is in Galatians 1-3.

Galatians is perhaps the first of Paul’s many letters in our New Testaments. And many a scholar dates it in the early ’50s, perhaps during his second or third missionary journey.

The primary message of Galatians deals with how a person gets saved...by the works of the law or by faith?

Paul says there is “...not another gospel of salvation, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:7‬

“We ourselves are Jewish sinners by birth and not Gentile sinners, yet we know that a person is not justified before God by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Jesus Christ, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified...no one will be saved...

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:15-16‬ ‭

There were some churches and their leaders in the Galatian region that were challenging Paul’s “apostle status”.

So Paul starts his letter like this...“Paul, an apostle— not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:1‬

So who are we? Christians...not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. Amen and Amen!

And Paul, as inspired by the Spirit says to the churches in Galatia...“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:3-4‬

What a greeting...”Grace to you...God’s riches at Christ’s expense to you, followers of Jesus in Galatia...Grace to you...God’s power to do His will to you, little Christ ones in Galatia...Grace to you...sufficient supplies for your every need, disciples of Jesus in Galatia...“And peace to you”...in that order...Grace and then peace of God for everyday living, especially for the challenging and pressing days to come.

And did you notice where the grace and peace came from?...”From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”...Grace for salvation and grace for our spiritual growing in the Lord comes as a mercy gift from God... because Jesus...“gave himself for our sins”.

Paul seems determined to never get too far away from the “doctrine of atonement”...because there is only one way to be saved...a perfect sacrifice for our sins...and that was Jesus at the cross.

Jesus didn't give himself away for our righteousness...we didn't have any.

He gave himself for our sins...of which we had plenty to be saved from.

Paul wrote....“Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭

Friends, I grew up in a church that taught “another gospel”. They taught exactly what Paul was warning the Galatian disciples to reject. They taught that to become a Christian one must believe in Jesus ...plus: be baptized by their denomination, and keep the commandments. If you kept enough of the commandments then you would be saved and go to heaven.

In other words, they were saying, one can only receive the Salvation of the Spirit by the works of the law, not just by faith in Jesus Christ.

Reminds me of a memory verse from 50 years ago...Titus 3:5...“Jesus saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the spiritual washing of regeneration...or...” being born again as Jesus told Nicodemas”...and the renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:5‬

Eternal salvation was and is about faith in Christ, trusting him and only him for God’s eternal life! Amen and amen!

Have a great day