Convictions & Conversations
Join me as I read through and study the book of Galatians!
If you're interested in using or seeing the study series I will be using press the link and follow along!
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/knowing-bible-galatians/
Day 1: Overview
First, Paul poses the question to the Galatians: How can something so severe bring so much delight?
In his passionate letter to the Galatians, Paul is attempting to dissuade the people from attempting to "prove" their worth to God and to others. He emphasizes that Jesus alone is the way for us to be accepted by God and become full members of His family. We are righteous through His righteousness.
He teaches justification by faith alone.
Any attempt at adding more to "prove" ourselves is wrong. Saying that doing this or that in addition to faith will improve our standing before God is false teaching. Ultimately, it will do more harm than good. (For context, Paul is speaking to Gentiles who were being pressured by other teachers to follow Old Testament laws, like observing feast days, to be welcomed into God’s family. Paul writes to them, urging them to resist these false teachings.)
"To say we need more than Jesus to be justified before God is to lose everything."
The book of Galatians shows us the way to become members of God's family. It also guides us on how to experience the ongoing freedom of being His children—the freedom Christ won for us on the cross.
While Christianity must begin by faith in Jesus, it must also continue in it.
"A Spirit-led trust in Jesus enables the believer to discover the joyful freedom of serving others in love."
"No longer I,... but Christ."
As Christ was crucified, we as the believer joined to Him by faith, must also be crucified with Him.
We must crucify our previous selves. This means letting go of pride and breaking ties with anything that draws us away from God.
"Now believers live by faith in Christ, empowered by His resurrection life, filled with hope because of their newfound status as Sons of God, heirs of His extravagant promises, members of His unimaginably great new creation."
Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
How can you continue to live by faith in Jesus today, trusting Him fully in both your salvation and daily life?
What does it mean to you to live as part of God's family, free in Christ?
Check back in 2 days for the next part of the study!
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