“So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1
Over the next however long, I will be studying the book of Galatians along with Romans. I am super excited about this study and all that God is going to pour into this heart of mine. I will be using a lot more of SSALS (Study, Store, Apply, Live/Learn, and Share) as I go along. I hope you will bury up with me over the next long while.
S-Galatians 1-The Authenticity of the gospel.
S- "He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity. Amen." Galatians 1:4-5
A-Freedom in Christ through the rescuing of His death and blood
L- The Gospel and the Rescue
*The Book of Galatians was written appr. A.D. 49 from Antioch, prior to the Jerusalem council
* The purpose-To refute the Judaizers who taught that Gentile believers must obey the Jewish law in order to be saved, and to call Christians to faith and freedom in Christ.
*Author-Paul
The time this book was written, there was a lot of controversy about the Gospel. The Judaizers were claiming that the Gentiles had to obey the Jewish law in order to be saved, and that just isn't the case. It was the wrong gospel message, thus God used Paul to set it straight and bring believers back to the pure gospel.
So what is the pure, real, authentic Gospel? God's Good News is for everyone, Salvation is God's grace to us through faith in Jesus Christ. It is centered on God. The death of Christ thus bringing about the death of our sin (We must daily die to ourselves.) The gift and power of the Holy Spirit within us, we are saved by faith in Christ not by keeping the law. We are one in Christ, and we are set free from sin and death.
When we understand this we also understand and know this we understand freedom in a whole new light.
The opening chapter of Galatians Paul comes out strong. He doesn’t wait to speak of the truth or to address the problem at hand. I like this about Paul. He tells it as it is.
Paul makes it very clear that He was called by Christ Himself to write this letter. (Galatians 1:1)
Why do you think it was important for Paul to do that?
-Because many people questioned and doubted His authority to speak on such matters.
As we read further on in verse 4 Paul makes a very powerful statement about Christ, His love, and why the pure gospel offers such freedom.
“He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity. Amen.” Galatians 1:4-5
To be rescued from this evil world means that we are free from the confinement of sin, its danger and the evilness of it. We are saved and delivered, no longer held captive. The chains have been broken.
Jesus died to set me free. His death saved me. There is praise to be made, glory and honor to be given. So why do I often walk as though I am still held captive by my sin?
Jesus teach me through this powerful verse how to live in the freedom of God’s grace. Help me to not fall back into the slavery of the law and sin. I want to walk with joy and confidence because I am free.
I have been saved by Christ to live for Christ. In the book of Romans there are several
passages that help us understand how to live in freedom and that it is for
everyone, even us.
Romans 3:22-“We are
made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.
And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have
done.”
God’s tells us very specifically right here. No matter who
you are or what you have done, if you trust in my Son Jesus Christ and believe
that He will take away your sins, you will be saved.
There is hope, hope for all mankind. You can be set free from the bondage and
entanglement of sin!
Jesus there is always
so much to take in when we study Your Word. Thank You for the unending amount
of knowledge and wisdom that pours out over us as we study Your Word. As we
take in all that You have taught us today, I ask with complete faith that it
will stick within our hearts second by second setting us free from any bondage
of sin we are in. Show us and teach us today more about the freedom that comes
from the pure Gospel truth.
