Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Summary: Speaking of children, how did God deal with his kids?
It is interesting that Paul would include this statement in his section on family values, but not surprising.
Paul is sharing information revealed to him by God (Galatians 1:12). As usual, God’s message is completely consistent over the centuries. It is also a message close to God’s heart.
Continue reading “Colossians 3:20 – God’s Children”… having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness …
Summary: Understanding what it means to have our “legal indebtedness” canceled requires an understanding of the law.
We know from previous passages that Paul often mixes metaphors with reality. We also know it can be hard to tell the difference. This passage presents us with the same question: Is Paul speaking literally or metaphorically?
The concept of “legal indebtedness” depends on the existence of law. Without laws, nothing is illegal.
God’s law is like that. God doesn’t need a legislature to confirm his laws or a police force to enforce them. All God has to do is speak, and his words become law.
Continue reading “Colossians 2:14a – Legally Dead”From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
Summary: As Paul closes his letter to the Galatians, he makes a rather unusual statement. We are left wondering how much we should read into his words.
Continue reading “Galatians 6:17 – Tired Warrior”— to the Israel of God.
Summary: In today’s passage, Paul drops a clue to his views on the true nature of Israel.
Continue reading “Galatians 6:16b – God’s Children”Not even those who are circumcised keep the law …
Summary: Keeping the law is simple, but that doesn’t mean it is easy.
Continue reading “Galatians 6:13a – Keeping the Law”Against such things there is no law.
Summary: Paul points us to a place where God wants us to be. If we are following Jesus, that is where he is leading us.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:23c – Walking with Jesus”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!”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”