SCRIPTURE: Galatians 6:1-18 OBSERVATION: Paul finishes his letter with a summary appeal to live the heart of the gospel: grace! Be gracious to those who stumble and struggle, and look for opportunities to do good to others, especially other believers and those who lead in the faith. Take sin seriously (you reap what you sow), but…
Author: Norm
July 30 — Galatians 5:16-26
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:16-26 OBSERVATION: The key is to live by the Spirit, not by the sinful nature, nor by the law. To be LED by the Spirit means to look for His leading, listen for His voice, follow His promptings. It takes training and practice to do this, it is a discipline. The Spirit will not…
July 29 — Galatians 5:1-15
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:1-15 OBSERVATION: To return to old covenant ‘righteousness’ is to be separated from Christ. We are to put our confidence in Christ, imitate His love, and eagerly wait for the final declaration of righteousness on the last day. This is not an excuse to sin, but an opportunity to serve and love. Paul warns…
July 28 — Galations 4:21-31
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 4:21-31 OBSERVATION: Paul uses the old covenant story of Ishmael and Isaac (Genesis 16,21) to illustrate the difference between the old and new covenant, to demonstrate that God’s grace does not flow through human effort but through supernatural intervention. Nothing we do (or do not do) can change God’s feelings towards us, He freely, graciously…
July 27 — Galatians 4:8-20
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 4:8-20 OBSERVATION: Paul describes the observance of special days, months, seasons, years as being enslaved. It is not the personal observance of these things, but the legalistic imposing of these things on others, separating people by them. Paul recalls how they welcomed him before, but how this religious legalism is now separating them. Paul…
July 26 — Galatians 3:26-4:7
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 3:26-4:7 OBSERVATION: The one thing that makes any person acceptable to God is humble submission (faith) to the Christ (messiah, promised seed). Prior to Jesus’ coming was preparation time. God used the Jews (covenant people, through Moses) to prepare for His coming, but now the original covenant with Abraham (Galatians 3:17), where all peoples are…
July 25 — Galatians 3:15-25
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 3:15-25 OBSERVATION: Paul says that the Law of Moses was temporary, put in after the original covenant with Abraham, for a specific ‘season’, until the promised Messiah (seed) would come to defeat sin, death and hell (Genesis 3:15). The law is not evil, but is limited, it serves a purpose – like household rules for…
July 24 — Galatians 3:1-14
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 3:1-14 OBSERVATION: The promise of the Spirit, the receiving of the Spirit, is the ‘blessing of Abraham’. Jesus makes this possible by removing the curse. It is not something we earn or deserve, it is something we freely receive. Paul’s frustration comes through that the believers are returning to the yoke of religion, rules…
July 23 — Galatians 2:11-21
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 2:11-21 OBSERVATION: Paul even challenges Peter for acting contrary to the message of grace. He explains that the life of faith is a life of freedom to follow Christ’s leading within (Christ lives in me, 2:20). Christ is not to blame when we sin again, we are. But He frees from focusing on religious…
July 22 — Galatians 2:1-10
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 2:1-10 OBSERVATION: Paul was raised to measure people by their status and religious performance, but God’s free love has transformed him. He now realizes that God does not measure people by these things, but loves all people (Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor). He confirms that this was Jesus’ message with Peter and the…