Sin at first looks like freedom but gradually leads to greater and greater restriction. God’s law at first looks like restriction and gradually leads to greater and greater freedom. What does the Bible actually teach us about these two important topics?

When you hear the word, “God,” what do you think? What do you feel? Are they positive thoughts and feelings or negative ones? We will discover that the one true God is radically different than popular religion has made God out to be, and radically beautiful, too.

Paul foretold that Christianity would undergo a “great falling away”—an apostasy—from the pure gospel of Christ. John foretold that the church would prostitute itself to the state and use the power of the state to force its will on the world. History reveals that this is exactly what happened. It is vital then, to distinguish between Christ and Christianity.

In Christ, a new creation has been set in motion. All who find their identity in the love of Christ will also find that they are crucified to the world. They are no longer in harmony with the general value system that defines fallen humanity. Forgiveness, generosity, and goodness is their new way of living.

Paul explains that Christ has already accomplished the salvation of humanity apart from anything we might do to earn His favor. Now it’s just a matter of believing and living that reality. You are free, so live free.

Legalism drives exclusion, division, and hostility. The gospel of Christ is all about inclusion, unity, and love. The world operates in ways that create polarized groups. The gospel invites everyone into a new shared identity in Christ.

Everyone who identifies with Christ by faith is a child of Abraham and an heir of all that was promised to Abraham. Paul wants us to understand that the law excludes nobody because the Messiah has embraced everybody. So, then, what purpose does the law serve? Paul answers the question with absolute clarity.

Paul says Jesus bore “the curse of the law” for us. What does this mean? In this session, we explore God's covenant relationship with Abraham, and through Abraham with humanity and the difference between a penal curse and a covenant curse.

According to Paul, justification by faith is not merely about me and my personal salvation. It’s about us and our covenantal status in fellowship with one another.

It is a sad truth that wherever Jesus is setting people free with God's unconditional love, there will always be individuals who feel it is their God-ordained mission to pull them back into bondage. Paul says you can identify these “false brethren” by the fact that they seek to “compel” others with their views.