Here is what one commentator
wrote about Galatians: “The Church is always in need of hearing the
message of Galatians. No matter what we
have experienced, it is our nature recurrently to fall into a system of merit,
and to think in terms of achievement and reward. But here, flowing spontaneously from his
head, yet from his heart, Paul expresses the life-transforming, world-changing
affirmation of justification by faith.
We are at the mercy of God’s grace, and that mercy encompasses all our
sins.” The book of Galatians is
important because in every age it gives answers to these core issues of our
hearts: “I have a need to love and be
loved,” and “I have a need to be
valued.”
Paul’s letter to the Galatians
describes the differing thoughts, opinions, and actions on what one must do/be
to receive the benefits of a vibrant life with Jesus. The book makes reference to Acts 15, an
important time in the life of the early Christian church, and to the church
today. The message this week is not
anything new to long term attendees of Hebron, but as the quote above reminds
us, “it is our nature recurrently to fall
into a system of merit, and to think in terms of achievement and reward.”
These verses of scripture are so
rich, I sometimes fear any attempt I try cannot do justice to God’s intended
meaning. However, I am foolish enough to
think at the very least here is a profound truth:
The Gospel governs both our
beliefs and our actions. There is gospel
belief (justification by faith alone) and there is gospel action (walking in
step with the gospel). Some belief
contradicts the gospel, and some actions contradict the gospel. I need to have reminders in my life to help
me keep the truth of the Gospel in my beliefs and actions.
Here are some questions to ponder
in preparation for our time together this Sunday:
- Galatians 2:5 and 2:14 employ the phrase “the truth of the Gospel.” How would you describe the truth of the Gospel?
- Galatians 2:3 and 2:14 also use the word “force.” What does this word bring to your mind?
- Acts 10 describes the interaction between Paul and Cornelius. What do we learn about legalism, fear, freedom, and peace in this event?
- Luke 12:1-4 relates a warning Jesus gives to his disciples? He describes the leaven of the Pharisees as “hypocrisy.” Are there any ways you and I engage in hypocrisy today?
- Here is a quote from Leo Rosten, a playwright. “I can’t believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be compassionate. It is above all to matter, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.” Do you agree or disagree with this and why? Do you think Paul agrees or disagrees with this and why?
