Growing in Grace

Photo Credit Paul began chapter 5 of Galatians by talking about our freedom in Christ. Christ died to set us free from the law and legalism. By setting us free from the "yoke of slavery", we are not longer burdened with the "rigorous demands of the law as the means for gaining God's favor" (NIV). Trying to follow the law is an incredible burden because one cannot be selective of what part he will follow. It is all or nothing. Warren Wiersbe tells us that an unsaved person wears a yoke of sin and the religious legalist wears the yoke of bondage; but the Christian who depends on God's grace wears the liberating yoke of Christ. We no longer need the external force of the law to keep us in God's will, because we have the internal leading of the Holy Spirit. For those who wait for the hope of righteousness by faith, we become spiritually rich because we are no longer outside of God's grace. Because of this freedom, we are to stand firm in our faith in...

Chapter 4 of Galatians begins with Paul describing the Jews' relationship with God while under the law. He says they were like children under the guardianship of the law. They were slaves to the principles of the world. Warren Wiersbe explains that an infant son or child cannot enjoy the father's wealth. In the Roman world, the children were cared for by a servant. This represented the Jews spiritual condition. The law was the guardian that disciplined the nation and prepared the people for the coming of Christ. This relationship changed, however, when Christ came. He redeemed those under the law and made them full heirs as sons, giving them the Holy Spirit. The NIV Study Bible adds that God takes us into His family as fully recognized sons and heirs. We are not little children but adult sons with all of the privileges of sonship. We do not have to wait to begin enjoying the spiritual riches we have in Christ (WW). This was true for both the Jews and the Gentiles who chose to...

Galatians chapter three opens with Paul rebuking the Galatians and calling them foolish because they had failed to use their "powers of perception" to see that the Judaizers were trying to convince them that their experience with Christ was not enough; and that they also needed the law. In their conversion experience, the believers in Galatia had received the Spirit by faith and not by the works of the law. Paul asked, in the form of five rhetorical questions if they began with the Spirit, how could they go on to maturity without the Spirit, depending on their flesh? Since we were saved through the Spirit and not the flesh, through faith and not the law, then we should continue that way. (WW) We may try to be perfected through human effort such as going to church, tithing, serving, or trying to be "good"; but salvation and sanctification are the work of the Holy Spirit. The presence and work of the Spirit in the life of the believer is the only real evidence of ...

In Galatians chapter two, we find Paul talking about his trip to Jerusalem about fourteen years after his conversion. The Judaizers had infiltrated the early church insisting that the Gentile believers must submit to circumcision and the law. The gospel given to Paul by God was of faith through grace. It was important for that position to be defended if the gospel was to remain pure. Paul took Barnabas and Titus with him to Jerusalem to do just that. Acts 11:19-26 tells us that Barnabas was a good man who was full of the Holy Spirit and faith. We read in Acts 13:2 that the Holy Spirit spoke and said to set apart Barnabas for the work He had called him to do. And in 2 Corinthians 8:16-17, 23 we are told that Barnabas had the same concern for the Corinthians as Paul. He organized the collection, showed enthusiasm and initiative. Barnabas was Paul's partner and fellow worker. Paul held him in high esteem. Warren Wiersbe writes that Barnabas was one of Paul's closest friends. He ...

I've just started my women's Bible study for the new year. The study is called The Power of the Gospel, Paul's Letters to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians . It was written by Trudy Ries and Karen Scotti and is published by Calvary Chapel Pasadena.  I'm so glad to be back in study and blessed to be with the same group of ladies I've gotten to know over the past two years. I think God knew I needed the familiarity this year to be able to share the struggles of my heart. So here's a summary of our first week's study from Galatians chapter 1. . .  "The gospel not only has the power to save a life, but it has the power to transform, liberate, and provide stability for those who embrace it." (TPotG) This book includes Paul's letters to the churches in Galatia. Max Lucado writes that "the book of Galatians is the Emancipation Proclamation for the church. . .It defines Christian liberty. Paul wrote it to combat tho...