THE STORY OF JESUS: Galatians 5:19-21 “Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21) Paul is not making a checklist, so that if you fail in one you fail in all. He is describing what happens in a person who indulges themselves. Someone that is full of themselves, focused on what…
Decide to walk by the Spirit!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Galatians 5:16-18 “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) I’m the first to admit that resisting sinful temptations is hard. To ‘walk by the Spirit’ is to choose to go where the Spirit leads. Imagine a situation: you’re tempted to curse someone who cuts…
Free to love!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Galatians 5:13-15 “Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.” (Galatians 5:13) No more need to fear God’s anger, or punishment for sin, we are loved, we are free. So does that mean we can live as we please, do what we want? By no means, we have been set free from…
The ONLY thing that counts!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Galatians 5:6-12 “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6) Paul is dealing with the specific issue of circumcision, a part of Jewish religion. But in general he is fighting the spirit of religion, doing certain things to appease God. Paul’s message of good news has been that…
Done with religion!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Galatians 5:1-6 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) We have a sin problem; we are drawn to pride, greed, lust, selfishness, etc. Religion is the attempt to mollify God, to improve…
Something to be glad about!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:5-7 “I am going away and I am coming back to you.” (John 14:28) This whole chapter has been about restored fellowship. Jesus came to bring us back to God, and to ourselves, and to each other. The way to restoration involved His dying… but He came back from death. Death, the…
The Spirit of Jesus speaks
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:25-27 “The Holy Spirit… will teach you all things.” (John 14:26) While on earth, Jesus spoke directly to His disciples, teaching them God’s ways. Now that He is gone (in body), He is with us in Spirit. The Spirit of Jesus, of God, is in us and continues to teach us. Jesus…
Love makes a home!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:22-24 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” (John 14:23) Jesus takes us beyond the law to the heart of God. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’(Deuteronomy 19:21) But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.” (Matthew 5:38-39) He shows us how love…
The fellowship of the Spirit
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:15-21 “I will not leave you as orphans.” (John 14:18) Jesus began by speaking about His Father’s house, and room for us. He described His intimacy with the Father as ‘being one’. Same heart, same love, same purpose, to see Jesus is to see the Father. Here we see this intimacy offered…
God’s image and likeness!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:8-14 “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 14:11) How can a human being be ONE with God the Father? Jesus’ words are often read to mean that Jesus was equal to God. (Which I do believe is true, based on…