God Speaks
Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, Explains How We Are Made Children of the Promise By Faith Like Abraham
Verse of the Day: “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:15-16 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Galatians 1
Reflection: As we begin the book of Galatians, please use the link below to view the highly informative illustrated summary by the folks at The Bible Project. Chapter one begins with an introduction in which Paul summarizes the gospel and prays a blessing over the churches in Galatia. He then states his purpose for writing, which is to correct their misconceptions and bring them back to a true understanding of the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. Next, he presented his credentials for the ministry God had called him to–preaching to the Gentiles.
Prayer: Dear great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has saved me not by my own merits or efforts but by raising Jesus from the dead after He had suffered and died on my behalf. Thank You, Jesus, that You gave Your life for my sins, just as God our Father planned. You did this to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen. Please don’t let me turn away to anything other than this truly good news. I know that You deal very sternly with anyone who does this or leads others to do so. Help me to strive not to please myself or other people, but instead strive to please You alone. May the Gospel I share with others not be from a merely human view of the world. May my worldview flow out of my personal interaction with You, the Living Word of God. I should seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit through prayer and study of the Bible, the written word of God. As I grow in the faith, may other people notice the changes that trusting Jesus is making in my life. By the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and my obedience, I will move from a person who reviles Christ, Christians, and Christian principles to a person who revels in bringing others to faith and life in Him. May the people around me glorify God because of Your work in me. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will thank Jesus that He died and rose again on my behalf.
- I will speak with a friend who is not yet a believer about what Jesus has and will do for them and how they should respond.
- I will write out what I consider my credentials regarding sharing the gospel.
- I will write out a summary or definition of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2
Reflection: After more than fourteen years of preaching the good news of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, Paul went to Jerusalem, taking Barnabas and Titus with him. There he met with the leaders who affirmed and encouraged him that he was correct in what he had been teaching. The question of circumcision came up only because some false teachers said that Gentile believers should be required to follow Jewish regulations. These leaders of the church in Jerusalem agreed that Paul would have responsibility to preach to the Gentiles, while Peter would be responsible to preach to the Jews. John, Peter, and Jesus’ brother James all agreed that Paul and his companions were truly fellow workers in spreading the gospel of Jesus. Later, Paul confronted Peter about his being swayed to behave differently whether among Gentiles or Jews. Paul asserted that, whether Jew or Gentile, everyone is made right with God because of their faith in Jesus Christ, not by keeping the Jewish laws. He summarized his point by saying that our old selves with their sin died with Jesus on the cross. When He rose from the dead, we rose again with Him. So, now we live each day in our earthly bodies by trusting in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. We are to receive and live out the grace of God.
Prayer: Dear Father God, thank You for instructing and guiding Your obedient children into the particular areas of influence in which You choose to use them. Although we need to consult those who have walked with You longer than we have, let us take our ultimate direction from You alone, Lord. Help us not to be hypocritical or deceptive in any way. Show us how to deal with those who disagree and/or persecute us in a firm, but loving manner, even those who are close to us and/or in positions of leadership. Thank You, Lord, that we are justified (declared righteous) by faith in Christ, not by works of the law (following all the rules and trying to be a “good” person). No mere human being can keep all of God’s laws perfectly. So, the only way we can be saved is receiving by faith all that Jesus did for us through His life, death, and resurrection. This applies to each of us personally, as we live it out each day. If a person could be saved any other way, then You, Jesus, suffered and died in vain. Thank You, Jesus. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will take time to listen to the instruction and guidance God has for me especially as I read and study the Bible.
- I will ask God to lead me to a wise mentor who can advise me in the ways of God.
- I will monitor my reactions to disagreement or persecution, asking myself, “How did Jesus react in similar circumstances?”
- I will quietly discuss with a friend or stranger how to be rescued from their sin so that they can spend eternity with God in Heaven.
Galatians 3
Reflection: Galatians 3:1-6 asks the question, “Is a person saved by faith or works of the law?” Paul emphatically states that it is by faith in the LORD God (specifically in Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection) that a person is saved. Verses 7-9 give Abraham as an example of this truth. Paul also points out the importance of the Holy Spirit. In verses 10-14, he addresses the problem of the curse: everyone who does not keep the law perfectly is under a curse. He reminds the Galatians that “…Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse of our wrongdoing.” (Galatians 3:13 NLT). So, which should a person rely on for life and eternal salvation, the law, or God’s promises? Paul asserts “the righteous shall live by faith,” (Galatians 3:11 ESV) in God and His promises and gives practical examples to prove it.
Prayer: Dear God who turns fools into faith-filled followers of Jesus, please help me to understand and remember that I received Jesus and the Holy Spirit by faith, not by keeping all the rules and regulations of religion or society. I need to go on living by faith in my ordinary, day-to-day life. Even Abraham, whom You chose to be the father of nations, lived by faith in Your promises, Almighty God. It wasn’t until hundreds of years later that You gave Your people the Ten Commandments and the other laws and regulations. LORD, You did that so that even people who were not his physical descendants but who trusted in Your promises could be children of Abraham by faith. Of course, the most important descendant of Abraham was Jesus the Christ, the Son of God. It is You, Jesus, who fulfills all of the promises of God. You’re the only One who can. You bore the curse of our disobedience (sin) on the cross. You gave us the laws of Scripture to guide and protect Your people until the proper time for You to set us free from slavery to sin and the fear of death. Now, every one of us can be set free and be declared “children of God” through faith in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah. Praise the LORD! AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will memorize Galatians 3:11 and 13 so that I’ll be reminded to keep my faith centered in the LORD God rather than in keeping or not keeping religious, moral, social, or civil laws and regulations.
- I will share this scripture with _______ (someone I know who is counting on their keeping the moral laws of the Bible to be counted righteous before God).
- I will take some time to check my motivation when I’m making a decision. Am I choosing to do right because I’m just obeying God’s laws or am I holding God to a promise He has made?
- I will connect with someone (in person or through books or videos) who has lived by faith so that I can see it modeled, and/or I will serve as model to someone less experienced.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.