Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ;
Summary: Paul’s insistence on this point is leading us to deeper levels of understanding God’s power of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:4a – Christ or Antichrist?”Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
Summary: Paul’s discourse on the law and God’s family has opened up a whole new world of understanding for this writer.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:3 – A Horrible Thought!”Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
Summary: Paul’s statement about circumcision seems a bit over the top. Fortunately, we have lots of context to help us understand Paul’s meaning.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:2 – Complications”Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Summary: Paul is working hard to help us understand our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:1b – Standing Firm”It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Summary: Understanding what Paul means by freedom is key to understanding what it means to be saved by faith in Jesus.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:1a – Children of the King”Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Summary: Freedom is not something that comes naturally to someone who was born into slavery.
Continue reading “Galatians 4:31 – Live Free”“Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
Summary: Sarah’s demand that Abraham “get rid of” Hagar and Ishmael puts Abraham in a tough spot.
Continue reading “Galatians 4:30b – Two Paths”But what does Scripture say?
Summary: Paul’s statement about Scripture points us to an important truth. God arranged for us to have Scripture for a reason.
Continue reading “Galatians 4:30a – Checking In With God”At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.
Summary: In this passage, Paul gives us a timeless insight into the human condition.
Continue reading “Galatians 4:29 – Flesh Versus Spirit”Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.
Summary: Paul has been using Sarah and Hagar as examples of faith and works. Abraham had faith, but Sarah wanted to rely on works. Faith worked out better.
Continue reading “Galatians 4:28 – The Child of Promise”