Galatians – Freedom in Christ
When trying to get an issue resolved, either over the phone or at a store that sold you the defective item, we are not happy to hear, “Let me go ask my boss”, who most likely will merely be the next in line and not be THE boss. Time is wasted. I find it much more efficient to go to the top right away, don’t you? Ask for who’s in charge and resolve the issue quickly. No one below the boss has any real authority to make the final decision for resolution.
In coming to Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin we have gone to the top, the King of kings and LORD of lords. He is Savior and He is Lord. He has the final answer. His saving grace has set us free. HE is THE boss. He is our advocate and he is part of the Three-In-One. There is now no middleman. Religion is not the middleman nor any pastor or priest. As believers we can approach the Throne of God, in Jesus Name, and be heard.
“By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God.” This is the fulfillment of God original plan and promise to us. And that’s not all! We are joint heirs, with Jesus Christ! We are noted in the will of our Father!
Paul explains this wonderful privilege that we have to go directly to the top…without an earthly middleman. He finishes with,
“In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and no Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are ALL in common relationship with Jesus Christ.”
We are all heirs, equally, according to the promises of God!
Read carefully and prayerfully and be blessed by the distinction of who we are because of Christ’s work on the Cross. We are redeemed and free to go directly to God. Wow! Let that sink in.
Galatians 3, The Message (Part two)15-18 Friends, let me give you an example from everyday affairs of the free life I am talking about. Once a person’s will has been ratified, no one else can annul it or add to it. Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his descendant. You will observe that Scripture, in the careful language of a legal document, does not say “to descendants,” referring to everybody in general, but “to your descendant” (the noun, note, is singular), referring to Christ. This is the way I interpret this: A will, earlier ratified by God, is not annulled by an addendum attached 430 years later, thereby negating the promise of the will. No, this addendum, with its instructions and regulations, has nothing to do with the promised inheritance in the will.
18-20 What is the point, then, of the law, the attached addendum? It was a thoughtful addition to the original covenant promises made to Abraham. The purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Obviously this law was not a firsthand encounter with God. It was arranged by angelic messengers through a middleman, Moses. But if there is a middleman as there was at Sinai, then the people are not dealing directly with God, are they? But the original promise is the direct blessing of God, received by faith.
21-22 If such is the case, is the law, then, an anti-promise, a negation of God’s will for us? Not at all. Its purpose was to make obvious to everyone that we are, in ourselves, out of right relationship with God, and therefore to show us the futility of devising some religious system for getting by our own efforts what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete his promise. For if any kind of rule-keeping had power to create life in us, we would certainly have gotten it by this time.
23-24 Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for.
25-27 But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.
In Christ’s Family28-29 In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the privilege to come directly to you with everything on my mind. You always have the answers I need. Thank you for loving us so much you sent Jesus to free us. Thank you for your amazing grace that settles all issues of righteousness. Thank you for saving me. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world you created.
In Jesus Name, Amen
You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.
Tell us how you really feel, Paul! What do we learn?
And I’m singing…Resurrecting!
Today I remember that the moon has no light of it’s own. It only REFLECTS the light of the sun. Here is a bit of science for you:
Let’s pick it up at Galatians 2, verse 19…(The Message)
Galatians – Freedom in Christ!
Dear Heavenly Father, 
2 Corinthians 13, The Message
5-9 Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. I hope the test won’t show that we have failed. But if it comes to that, we’d rather the test showed our failure than yours. We’re rooting for the truth to win out in you. We couldn’t possibly do otherwise.
Today on this “Good Friday”, remember how much God loved…Resurrection celebration begins now! King Jesus is alive! He’s coming back! Are we ready?
Let’s pick it up at chapter 12…
Think about it…take all they time you need…I am.
2 Corinthians 10, The Message
REMEMBER…
Grandma was a delightful giver. She loved giving of her time, money and gifts of providing meals to strangers as well as friends and family. She got up early to fry chickens to provide a meal for all of us as we gathered at her table after church EVERY Sunday. Seldom were we alone as a family. She would invite those from church who might not have a place to go. She would invite new people, visiting preachers or friends. And she smiled while she did it. Yes, she was a delightful giver, not rich financially, but gave from a heart of passionate love of God. She was, as Paul describes in our passage today;
2 Corinthians 9, The Message
Think About It…
2 Corinthians 9, The Message
Think About It…
