Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
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”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!””I would like to learn just one thing from you …
Summary: Paul’s preface to his question presents us with an interesting premise. If, instead of asking twenty questions, you can only ask one, what is the important question to ask?
Continue reading “Galatians 3:2a – One Thing”Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
Summary: Trying to keep up with Paul’s logic can be challenging. Today’s passage challenges us to consider the importance of Christ’s crucifixion to Paul’s argument against circumcision.
Continue reading “Galatians 3:1b – The Best Kind of News”You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?
Summary: Paul expresses his frustration with believers who allow the gospel to tainted. We don’t need other beliefs. We just need Jesus.
Continue reading “Galatians 3:1a – Electric Gas”I have been crucified with Christ …
Summary: When Paul says he has been “crucified with Christ,” he is speaking metaphorically.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:20a – Crucified with Christ”“For through the law I died to the law …”
Summary: The complexities of Paul’s logic can be difficult to follow. Here, we explore the meanings of life and death and how they relate to the laws of the old covenant.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:19a – Walking Away”But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!
Summary: Paul tackles a legalistic conundrum as only Paul can. He lassos it, hogties it, and then throws it in our faces demanding that we confront his argument head-on.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:17 – Crime and Punishment”[“We who are Jews by birth] … know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”
Summary: The Jews that Paul refers to are not a homogeneous group. They are, for the most part, people who have stumbled over the “stumbling stone (Romans 9:32).
Continue reading “Galatians 2:16a – Challenge Course”I said to Cephas [aka Peter] in front of them all,
Summary: Conflict resolution can be a challenging topic. In this passage Paul illustrates a technique for dealing with a large group.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:14b – Awkward Situation”