God normally works through means, but in his freedom, he is not so bound.

Paul wraps up his letter to the Galatians reminding them of what the has already so thoroughly laid out- that our only boasting is in the cross of Jesus Christ.

Saying we are saved by grace alone does not mean there is not a Christian life to which we are called. The key to the Christian life is sowing to the Spirit rather than our flesh.

One extension of being a product of grace is extending grace to others. Here Paul tells us to restore sinners bearing one another’s burdens with gentleness.

We got started in the Christian life by the Spirit. We can only continue in him as well.

The Spirit of a Christ will not lead us in lawlessness. Our flesh has been crucified. We are new creatures who need to think of ourselves in a new light.

God has foreordained the means as well as the end. We struggle to hold these realities in tension, but Scripture is clear that God, the First Cause, has ordered things to come about by second causes.

Paul says those who do the works of the flesh won’t inherit the kingdom of God? Is he now adding a works principle to the gospel? Well, no. He is reminding us that the Spirit is real and is at work in us.

What is the antidote to our flesh? Well, it’s not a what but a who. The Spirit of Christ, he is the one who can deal with our flesh.

We are all self-justifying, self-interested people. The bad news is that doesn’t get is very far. The good news is, there the gospel.