Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin …
Summary: How do we keep others from falling into sin? Paul is instructing us on this topic, but we need to proceed with caution and love.
Continue reading “Galatians 6:1a – Starting With Love”Galatians 4:24c – The Unseen Connection
One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
Summary: The writer of Hebrews reminds us that faith is “assurance about what we do not see.” Sometimes we need to be reminded of what it is that we don’t see. Paul is here to help us!
Continue reading “Galatians 4:24c – The Unseen Connection”Galatians 2:19a – Walking Away
“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”Galatians 2:19 – Old Laws and New
If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
Summary: Keep up with Paul can be a challenge. In this passage he reflects on his personal journey with God’s law. The old covenant law is obsolete, and the “new law” is to trust in Jesus. If we try to mix the old with the new, we end up breaking the new law.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:19 – Old Laws and New”Galatians 2:17 – Crime and Punishment
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”Galatians 2:14b – Awkward Situation
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”Ephesians 6:24 – Undying Love
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Summary: God wants more than recognition and obedience. He wants our love, too. In this closing passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we find ourselves looking into the heart of our Lord Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:24 – Undying Love”Ephesians 6:16c – And Then There Was Jōb
… the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Summary: Pondering the meaning of “flaming arrows” leads us to consider the fate of Job.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:16c – And Then There Was Jōb”Ephesians 6:9b – The Master
… since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven,
Summary: Living in a broken and sinful world seems like an insurmountable challenge. Yet, we all have to face our Maker and our Master at some point.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:9b – The Master”Ephesians 5:26b – Power Wash
… cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Summary: Paul’s use of words always keeps us on our toes. In this passage he gives us something interesting to think about.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:26b – Power Wash”