September 24, 2017 |
Galatians 2:1-10 |
exposition, gospel
The reason many people are not receiving the good news that sets us free today, is because they really haven’t heard the true gospel, or they heard it and received it, but then fell back into living by self-effort. This is what was happening to the Galatians. They had heard the true gospel from Paul, but they were in danger of losing their freedom in Christ by coming back under a slavery to self-effort. In the second chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, he explained why their freedom depended on the true gospel that he had preached to them. The true gospel is the only gospel that can set us free.
September 17, 2017 |
Galatians 1:1-24 |
exposition, grace
Are you free from slavery to sin? Have you received the grace of Christ which sets you free from sin and sin’s result, which is death? Some have never received this grace and that’s the good news for today. You can be set free because of God’s grace, His free gift of salvation. Many others have received this grace, but aren’t living as one who has been set free. Perhaps you have fallen into the trap of legalism. Having received the mercy of God for salvation, you are now trying to live according to your own merit. Having received God’s favor as a gift, you are now trying to earn God’s favor as a goal — as if God’s love is conditional based on your ongoing effort.
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatian believers, he challenged them to return to Christ’s grace alone that was able to set them free. The only way to experience true freedom is to cling to Christ’s grace alone.
Don’t we all want a better life? Some think that politics or government can give us a better life. Some think protests and violence will lead to a better life. Some think that a better life means material things, like a new house, new car, new clothes, or a giant 4k TV. But the problem is that all of these are just externals. Focusing on the externals will not bring a better life. What we need is an internal change. We need a new heart.
This new heart can only be found in Jesus. He promised abundant life for those that would follow Him. A life that is full and overflowing. Does this describe your life? Don’t you want a better life?
