This is a critically important passage if we are going to understand what it looks like to live together as a spiritual family in the church. The law of Christ will compel us to act in love toward one another, bearing each other's burdens and walking alongside one another in sorrow and celebration. At RHC we often use #churchasfamily. This week will help us to better understand what that actually means and how it is lived out.

The letter to the Galatians has turned to full-on application at this point. This Sunday's text shows us that the reality of our hearts will show up practically in our lives. In alignment with Jesus' teaching that a tree will be known by its fruit, we see the fruit of our hearts will show up in how we live. The fruit of the Spirit is as clear as the fruit of selfishness and sin.

This section is a turning point in the letter. Paul moves from establishing the theological foundation of the gospel toward its outworking in our lives. If we have come into the family of God by grace through faith, it will show up in our lives. The four Sundays remaining in this series will look at the practical outworking of salvation in our lives as individuals and in the life of our church. The primary thrust of this week's passage is that the gospel frees us to love.

We continue our series in Galatians with the most difficult and confusing passage in the letter. Paradoxically, it also may be the most important, the climax of the theological argument Paul has been building through the first four chapters. Galatians 4:21-5:1 presents a contrast between Hagar and Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac. Paul uses this Old Testament reference to provide an allegory, or illustration, of a broader theological principle. Ultimately, there are only two ways to follow God. One is to believe fully on the promises of God. The other is to believe fully on the promises of God, aided with our own help to work them out. Only one of those brings freedom and life.

In this passage we see the issue of idolatry addressed head-on. The idea of idolatry can be confusing to us - most of us don't have issues with bowing to actual statues. It's important for us to understand that, as Martin Luther said, "Anything on which your heart relies and depends, I say, that is really your God." We all have an idolatry problem, and our worship will show up in our lives. Ultimately, anything other than Christ will enslave us and lead us to destruction. Our text this week helps us to see that Jesus frees us from slavery to false gods.

David betrays an abiding love for God and the things of God all across the psalms. Maybe nowhere more clearly than Psalm 63. In this Psalm, we see a deep spirituality shaped by a view of God in three parts.

In a world that is broken by division, injustice, and hate, there is hope for us in Christ. His people have the opportunity to be part of God's work in healing and restoring this world. We will take time to have a clear-eyed look at the brokenness around us both in our nation and in the American Church. All of this, though, will point us to hope and practical action to be part of God's work in healing and reconciliation.

This passage breaks down the life of Abraham and the relationship of God's promises to Abraham with the Law given through Moses. Ultimately all of this relates to Jesus Christ, who brought the culmination of all of God's plans and promises.

Over the past two Sundays we have explored a major conflict between the Apostles Paul and Peter. Paul confronted Peter because the issue of justification was at stake - how we achieve right standing before God. Galatians 2 clearly establishes the importance of our righteousness coming by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone. This Sunday the letter turns back to the churches in Galatia and to the issue of sanctification - how we are made holy. Once we have been given the gift of right standing before God, there are implications for how we live. This Sunday will be intensely personal and practical for us.

In Galatians 2:15-21 the beauty of justification is on brilliant display. Every one of us chases righteousness, right standing. That is shown in the guilt and shame that we all experience as we fall short of it. There is hope in Jesus Christ. I can't wait for us to gather together to celebrate it!