What Value

How many times in work or school have you been called upon to do something that you felt did really have much merit? I don’t think there is anything harder than working on something that you feel is useless. Today, it almost seems like that is exactly what Paul is asking. Does the law serve any purpose? He tells us that it was added because of sin... to be there till the "SEED" of promise. The keeping of the law was never intended to provide eternal life. What the law does is teach us what we can not do and that is be perfect. Now that we have learned that we can be perfect how do we receive eternal life? By faith in the ONE who has been perfect for us.

Gal 3:19-29
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NKJV
Paul is telling the Galatians that now that faith has come they are no longer under the tuter (the law). Faith in Christ makes us all Sons of God.
Explore for yourself

1. So why did God bother to give us the law?
2. What has the law done for us? Why?
3. What has replaced the Law?
4. What has faith "made" us?
5. How have we become descendants of Abraham? What does that give us?

Best Christmas Ever

Well I think I will forgo the study in Galatians for today.

Just a question? What you describe as your best Christmas ever? What makes it the best? Listening to the radio program there were lots of comments on "purchases"... spending lots of $$$. How sad! Even over hearing comments in the ER the trend was well we got to spend this because it is what "THEY WANT"!

I am so glad God choose to give me "What I NEED" and not what I want.

I needed to be forgiven of my sins. I needed someone willing to pay the price for my sins.

I needed someone to save me.

On the day of the birth of Jesus Christ so many years ago we truly experience the "Best Christmas".

Lay aside the gifts and goodies and reflect this Christmas. Thank the Lord for loving you enough to give you the gift of HIS Son.


Isa 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
NKJV

Promise of Christ

As a husband I have made promises to my wife and family that sadly I must admit I have not keep. When that happens, there must be admission of my failure and requesting of forgiveness. Try as much as I like I will never be able to keep all of my promises. Paul is talking to the Galatians about that very fact. The making and keeping of a covenant, once made it is not set aside. But even when that promise was not kept it still has its force. "It is law". Paul shows that the promise to Abraham was to Abraham and one specific individual "his seed".

Gal 3:1518
15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, " And to your seed," that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. NASU
But Paul is also showing the "Law" which came after the promise to Abraham it did not invalidate the promise because it was made and ratified by God. Remember the law has a purpose but it is not to save us because we obey it. But we will explore that the next time.

Explore for yourself!

1. What can not be set aside?
2. Who was the promise given to?
3. Which came first the promise or law... why is this important?

If these (or any of the questions) brings additional questions just leave them in the comment section.

Slipped?

Winter brings lots of weather most of us would prefer never arrived. Ice and freezing rain are most likely the least enjoyable. (Unless it gets you out of school). Ice on the roads can cause us to slip and slide into things that will not move. Ouch, that will hurt! The law of God is equally unmoveable. When we slip in regards to God’s law we are face with "hitting" the righteousness of God. In Galatians Paul says we become cursed.

Gal 3:10-14
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, " THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE" — 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. NASU

Paul was showing the Galatians (and us) that any attempt to earn righteousness by obeying the law results in becoming "cursed" and no person can be justified by obeying the Law. We must live by faith but there is one who suffered the curse of the cross. That one is Jesus Christ. He endured the curse of the cross in order to that the blessings of Abraham might come to those who put their faith in Christ.

Explore for yourself

1.What does the law do to man?
2. How is it evident that no one is justified by the Law before God?
3. What does it mean to live by faith?
4. What is the law?
5. What did Christ do for us? (Specifically)
6. How do we receive the promise?

Your Future

There are times in life when knowing the out come of a decision would be helpful to making the correct choice. However, we are not able to know with absolute certainty the outcome or future events. We must trust God who is the only one who understand the details that must be in place to understand the future. Recently I read John Piper where he stated, that the only way we can understand the Sovereignty of God is to look backwards. We waste to much time trying to understand what God is doing and to little time trusting Him knowing He is doing the right things in our life.

We can see here Paul explaining how God could know the future even as far back as in Abraham’s day.

Gal 3:6-9 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. NASU
It was God who foresaw the future and revealed to Abraham that ALL the nations would be blessed in him.

I am afraid that we are all to quick to believe God when things are going well but when we go through difficult times we aren’t so quick to believe that God know what is best for us.

Explore for yourself

1. How was Abraham saved?
2. How are we the seed of Abraham?

No Change in Rules

Did you ever play a game with someone only to get part way through and then they switched the rules on you? Try as you might, you can’t get them to keep them the way they were when you started. Of course the reason the rules changed is because somehow it became an advantage for them. Had you known the rules were not going to remain the same you may never even considered starting the game. You feel foolish because you have been trick.

Paul notices that the Galatians have be trick into thinking that God has changed the rules of Salvation.

Gal 3:1-5 1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain —if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? NASU
Paul takes the Galatians back to the time of their salvation and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. He asks them, was it because of something you did or was it because of the response of faith.

To the Ephesians Paul says: Eph 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. NASU

Are you trying to be like the foolish Galatians? Are you trying to work you way into favor with God? Clearly you can see that this is not going to happen. God states you are saved by "FAITH" not "works". Why not by faith today,

1. Admit you are a sinner.
2. Admit you can not save yourself
3. Invite Christ into your life to save you from your sins.
4. TELL SOMEONE TODAY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!

Explore for yourself.

1. Why does Paul ask the Galatians who bewitched them?
2. Why does Paul ask them how they received the Holy Spirit?
3. Why does He ask them if they are going to be perfected by the flesh?
4. Why would they be suffering?
5. Why does he ask if they suffered in vain? Did they really suffer in vain?
6. How were things happening among them? How should that challenge us?

Acting Different

Do you act differently depending upon who you are with? At work, are you giving to speaking one way that you would never speak at home? We will see today that this situation is not unique. Paul confronts Peter for acting in that manner. Peter, having come up to Galatia was enjoying the fellowship of the believers including eating with them until other Jews entered onto the scene. Then his attitude and actions began to change. He became aloof and started acting differently.

Gal 2:11-21
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
15 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. 17 "But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 "For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 "For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly." NASU

But there is more to what Paul was concerned about. He was concerned that these changes really lead to them not be straight forward about the truth of the gospel. Peter by his action was corrupting the gospel by adding to the message "you must live this way".
The question is often asked, "If someone came to your work would they know that you are a believer?". I would ask you, "Do you act differently on Sunday then you do the rest of the week?"

The message of the cross does not change from Sunday to Monday and if you trusted Christ as your Savior your actions and attitudes should not change from Sunday to Monday. If they do, you, like Peter need to confess you sin to God and receive His forgiveness and see to be true to the Gospel which does not change.

Explore for yourself.
1. What happened when Peter showed up at Antioch?
2. Why did Paul confront Peter?
3. What was Peter’s motivation for his actions?
4. What was the result (until Paul confronted him)?
5. How is a man justified?
6. How were YOUR sins paid?
7. IF you have received Christ as your Savior where is Christ living?
8. Rather than living by the flesh how are we to live?
9. If our "works" were necessary to help save us what would this do to Christ’s death?

Be the same person today and on Sunday!

Who matters?

Do you worry about your reputation before others? To often we are motivated to do things because we care what others think about us. This should not be. We see that Paul states that despite submitting to those who had a reputation it did not make a difference to him or God. God does not show partiality and neither should we when it comes to what we do or why we do it.

Gal 2:5-10
6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) — well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor — the very thing I also was eager to do. NASU

Paul notes for us that he was given the responsibility by God to take the gospel to the Gentiles. God will never tell others what you should do but they can confirm God working in your life.
Be careful that you don’t look to others to know what to do. Look to God and others will be able to see God working in your life.

Explore for yourself

1. What did they discover concern the message Paul was preaching?
2. How was Paul focus different than Peter’s
3.Who is power behind what was taking place?
4. What request did the apostles make of Paul and the others? What was their response?