Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles …”
Summary: Paul is striving to explain to the Galatians why it is dangerous to pretend that we can win God’s favor by something as simple as circumcision.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:15 – The Godly Goal”They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
Summary: God’s plan for the salvation of the world he created had to be carried out in two parts. The first part involved Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. The second part was telling people about Jesus.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:9b – Divide and Conquer”On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
Summary: Paul’s assignment from God wasn’t a figment of his imagination. It was real. We know this because the apostles in Jerusalem affirmed Paul’s gospel.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:7 – Validity”As a prisoner for the Lord,
Summary: As Paul begins the fourth chapter of his letter, he reminds us that he is a prisoner “for the Lord.” To put this in perspective, it is helpful to reflect on Paul’s life and what it might have been like had he not met Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:1a – What Jesus Wants”… I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
Summary: Looking back over Paul’s life gives us a bit of perspective on his letter to the Ephesians and his stand against requiring Gentiles to be circumcised.
Continue reading “Ephesians 3:1b – I, Paul”