Read Galatians 3:9-22

“This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” (Galatians 3:12)

Thoughts… What is the role of the Mosaic Law in the life of the Christian according to Paul’s letter to the Galatians? Are the 10 Commandments still valid? Are we not obligated to obey what is written in the Old Testament?

If we do not see Paul’s understanding of the Law in Galatians (as well as in his other writings) as multi-functional, it would appear that Paul was theologically confused.

On the one hand, he says, “So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified” (Gal. 2:16); and “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse…Clearly no one is justified before God by the law…The law is not based on faith.” (3:9-12) But on the other hand, he appeals to the same Law when he says, “The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal. 5:14)

Paul is not confused; he sees different functions of Law. One of those functions is, for the lack of a better term, what I would call “moral”, and another function is “tutorial” or “custodial”. The moral function of Law predated the Mosaic Law, which Paul refers to in Galatians 3:17 when he says, “The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.”

That moral aspect of Law has always existed, it guided mankind before the Mosaic Law, will always exists, and mankind will be judged against that Law. It is this Law that reveals God’s nature and perfect will.

The tutorial function of Law was given by Moses. It was, as Paul says in 3:24, “put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.” It is this law that reveals man’s sinfulness and his inability to redeem himself, and it served as a constant reminder of sinful man’s hopeless and cursed state until the time arrived for the only One who could blot out man’s record of sin and deliver from the sentence of death imposed by the Moral Law.

To rely on, or revert back to the Tutorial or Mosaic Law is to become enslaved or bewitched again to the curse of the Law. (3:1, 10) Why would anyone want to go back to grammar school when they have graduated?

So what is the role of Mosaic Law in Galatians. According to Paul’s own words in 3:19, “What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come….” Again, the Law was put in charge to lead us to Christ, so that we could be justified by faith and no longer under the supervision of the Mosaic Law (3:24-25)

We’ll always be obligated to follow God’s moral law. However, while practicing the specific tutorial aspects of the Mosaic Law may give you some sort of good feeling, it won’t make you righteous. In fact, it may detract from the righteousness that comes only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

So lean on Christ, not the law. That’s all you need.

Prayer… Father, thank you for making the way of grace my pathway into your presence. I am not required to observe the Mosaic Law to gain access to your presence or to garner your divine favor. I stand perfectly righteous before you on credit from Jesus and his righteousness, and for that I am eternally joyful.

One More Thing… “Many doctrinal conflicts have their foundations in two opposing covenants. Some doctrines are based on Israel’s Covenant of Circumcision; other doctrines are based on the Body’s Covenant of Grace. Where the former and latter doctrines stand in opposition, the position reflecting the grace given to the Body of Christ will be the correct theology for Christians today.” — Bob Enyart

Read Galatians 2:17-3:9

“After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by our own effort?” (Galatians 3:3)

Thoughts… Are you as guilty as I am in trying to get God to like you more? Even though I have been a Christ follower most of my life and have come to increasingly appreciate the grace of God as I get older, I still find myself occasionally steering back into the ditch of human effort to gain favor with God.

If I don’t feel good about some ministry effort, I’ll redouble my energy on the next activity. If I preach a dull sermon, I’ll work myself silly so the next one will be on the same level as the Sermon on the Mount—although that never seems to work. If I fall into a sin that I’ve promised to never do again, I find myself thinking of how I can make up for it—something akin to Protestant penance. If I am feeling unsuccessful, I will unleash a torrent of good works to compensate for my lack.

Sounds pretty goofed up doesn’t it? Well not so fast! I’ll bet you do the same thing.

Here’s the deal: Not matter what you do, you cannot get God to like you any more than he already does. In fact, the Bible says he loves you so much that even when you were still in sin, he sent his Son to die for you. That’s how much he likes you! You are the apple of God’s eye—don’t ever forget that!

So, as Paul is saying, since you don’t have to be perfect, quit trying! If you’re a Christ follower, relax! Chill out. You’re in. You’re on your way to heaven. You’ve got the Holy Spirit living within you. You are saved, forgiven, empowered, and favored by God. Reframe your thinking: Instead of focusing on your shortcomings, focus on God sufficiency. That’s what you’re depending on anyway. God loves you, warts and all. Allow him to work on your warts, but don’t forget to enjoy his unconditional love along the way—it will change your life.

I love the story of a private in the army of the Greek general, Alexander the Great, who ran after and retrieved the general’s runaway horse. When this lowly soldier brought the animal back, Alexander offered his appreciation by saying, “Thank you, Captain!”

With one word the private had been promoted. When the general said it, the private believed it. He immediately went to the quartermaster, selected a new captain’s uniform and put it on. He went to the officer’s quarters and selected a bunk. He went to the officer’s mess and had a meal. Because the great general had said it, the private took him at his word and changed his life accordingly—his way of thinking about the world, his way of perceiving himself, how he acted, how he lived.

As it relates to what God has declared to be true of you, why don’t you do that! Simply take God at his Word and change your life accordingly. You are loved no matter what. No go live like it.

Prayer… God, your grace is more than enough for me. It is greater than all my sins, and sufficient to compensate for all my shortcomings. As Thomas A` Kempis said, “He rides pleasantly enough whom the grace of God carries,” so your grace is carrying me, and it will carry me right into your eternal arms at the end of my days. For that I thank you.

One More Thing… “Free grace can go into the gutter, and bring up a jewel!” — Charles Spurgeon

Read Galatians 2:1-16

“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.” (Galatians 2:11)

Thoughts… There was an elephant in the room, and someone needed to point it out. Never being one to shy away from difficult conversations, Paul was just the guy to do it. So he confronted Peter, the great Apostle, boldly, unequivocally, and publicly.

Peter had gotten caught up in trying to impress certain followers of Christ who were quite legalistic in their approach to faith. They were still following many of the Jewish customs in their lives and in their worship. Peter, who himself preached the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith, and was not only preaching it but was practicing it, now reverted back to his old ways, acting like one of the Jewish Christians right in front of the Gentile Christians. This was pure hypocrisy and it sent a dangerous message to both the Jewish and Gentile believers—that observance of the Law was still necessary to faith.

So Paul took Peter on, and rebuked him to his face for all to see and hear. The message was clear, and effective. And it was needed!

We would do well to learn how to have difficult conversations. Rather than being so “nice” that we allow destructive words or actions to slip under the radar, we must be loving and courageous enough to confront with love and courage. There are times when so much is at stake that not to do so becomes sin on our part and will lead to untold damage in the lives of others who need to be directed by our words.

So how should one go about having these kinds of conversations? First, we need to make sure that what needs to be confronted rises to the level of moral wrong and is not merely a disagreement over personal preferences. Second, if possible, we need to have the conversation with the offending party in private. Third, the confrontation needs to be public if it has created a public perception that the wrong behavior is acceptable. Fourth, the conversation needs to be bold, but graceful, and done to bring reformation and reconciliation about. Finally, when we confront, we need to confront with solutions in mind. We need to be ready to be the solution in any difficult conversation we’ve been called to have.

Difficult conversations should be rare, but when they are called for, be committed to speak the truth in love. Someone’s eternity may be riding on it.

Prayer… Lord, give me the courage to love people enough to confront them when it is the only way that they will grow into the character of Christ. Help me to be ready to speak the truth in love, with humility, and always seasoned with grace.

One More Thing… “Truth demands confrontation; loving confrontation, but confrontation nevertheless.” — Francis Schaeffer

“Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.” (Galatians 1:8)

Read Galatians 1:1-24

Thoughts… Every once in a while it’s a rather obvious thing, but most of the time it’s a subtle, almost imperceptible, theological slight of hand. I’m talk about the twisting of the pure and simple Gospel.

It happens, you know! To think that Satan would sit quietly by and allow the Good News to be preached in its simplicity and purity Sunday after Sunday from pulpits or week after week in Sunday School classes and home group Bible studies would require a willingly suspension of disbelief on your part. Satan knows the fundamental power of the Gospel, so he goes after it early and often, trying to pervert it in any way he can.

That’s why Paul writes so many of his letters. That’s why he continually calls believers to alertness. That’s why he gives this sober warning here in the opening verses of Galatians. If anyone, a preacher, teacher, Bible study discussion leader, even an angel from heaven for that matter, brings a Gospel message other that salvation by grace through faith in the atoning death of Christ on the cross and his physical resurrection of the dead, then let the curse of God fall upon that messenger.

So be alert. Be discerning. Check out the sermon to see if it lines up. Don’t swallow everything you hear, hook, line and sinker. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you aren’t sure what was being said. Never let anyone mislead you into thinking that your salvation is based on observing certain laws, or doing good works or worshiping in a certain way or being sinlessly perfect. On the other hand, reject anyone who teaches you that sin doesn’t matter, that takes advantage of God’s grace to gratify the flesh, that leads you to abuse your spiritual liberty.

Stick to the basic: Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Prayer… Lord, I believe that you died of the cross as the only substitute for my sins. It is only through your sacrificial death that I can receive forgiveness and be made righteous before God the Father. I believe that you rose from the grave after three days, that you now live before the Father to ever intercede on my behalf, and will return one day soon to take me home to be with you forever. It is by the grace of the Father than I have been saved from sin through the gift of faith that puts trust in your redemptive work. I completely trust in you as my Savior and fully follow you as my Lord.

One More Thing… “It is a remarkable fact that all the heresies which have arisen in the Christian Church have had a decided tendency to ‘dishonor God and to flatter man.’” — Charles Spurgeon