Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith …
Summary: The power of God to know the future is revealed in the Bible.
Continue reading “Galatians 3:8a – Turning Point”Galatians 3:7 – Blood Bond
Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.
Summary: Paul points us to two things in this passage: one is faith, and the other is Abraham. There is a connection between the two that is as strong as a blood bond.
Continue reading “Galatians 3:7 – Blood Bond”Galatians 3:6 – When God Says, “Jump!”
So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Summary: The whole point of believing in Jesus is so we can be clothed in his righteousness when our time comes to be judged. In this passage, Paul begins talking about what that means.
Continue reading “Galatians 3:6 – When God Says, “Jump!””Galatians 2:14c – The Wrong Club
“You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?”
Summary: Deciphering what Paul is saying to Peter and his companions requires an understanding of past covenants made by God for man.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:14c – The Wrong Club”Galatians 2:3 – Covenant Conundrum
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
Summary: The issue of circumcision plagued the early church for years. It was like yelling, “I believe in life after death!” in a room full of Pharisees and Sadducees.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:3 – Covenant Conundrum”Galatians 2:2a – The Naked Truth
I went in response to a revelation …
Summary: The two key words in this passage are “revelation” and “response.” The Bible is full of wonderful examples of both.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:2a – The Naked Truth”Ephesians 4:14 – Taking Control
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Summary: Looking back in time we find a real-life example of what Paul is talking about in this passage. Thinking about Paul’s words in the light of the Old Testament helps us understand what he was trying to say.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:14 – Taking Control”Ephesians 2:11b – Homeless
… remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth …
Summary: Being a Gentile raises some interesting questions about how we relate to Jews, Israel, and our fellow Christians.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:11b – Homeless”Genesis 22:12 – God’s Question
Now I know that you fear God …
Summary: How does God know whether we fear him or not? In Genesis, we find an example of God testing Abraham to see how serious his faith is.
Continue reading “Genesis 22:12 – God’s Question”Genesis 22:3 – Instant Answer
So Abraham rose early in the morning…
Summary: The Bible is full of examples of people being “tested” or, as the KJV says, “tempted.” In this meditation, we look at Abraham’s response to one such situation.
Continue reading “Genesis 22:3 – Instant Answer”