The old year, 2009 is quickly winding down and the new year is very quickly coming upon us. I am sure that all of us have things that we would like to break free of in the new year. I don’t just want to break free of things I want to live the promise. Today’s portion of Paul’s letter to the Galatians gives us some inspiration and encouragement to do just that.
Paul is visiting the law verses the gospel topic yet one more time. He uses the births of Abraham’s children Isaac and Ishmael to reinforce that the gospel is the source of life. Abraham’s one son was born to Hagar Sarah’s bond servant, slave woman. He was born in the ordinary way. This made her son, Ishmael, a slave. Abraham’s second son, Isaac, was born to Sarah, the free woman. He was born by the power of the Spirit in Sarah’s old age. He was the son of promise. He was a free man. Paul told them that the Scripture says to get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share the inheritance with the free woman’s son. Paul said to the Galatians in verse 31 “Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.”
The challenge before us is to break free and live the promise. We are ready to break free from the old year. I ask Is there pain, sorrow, grief, challenges that have a hold on you? Are there places that 2009 has you in bondage? We could use the analogy that 09 is an old covenant. Break free of the bondage that it may have brought you. Let’s break free from the slave woman, the grip that 2009 has on us and live the promise. As believers in Jesus Christ, children of God, children of promise.
My challenge to you today as we come to the end of 2009 and enter into 2010 is to break free from any bondage that 09 brought to you and live the life of promise that comes from God to you in 2010.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Time has fully come. Galatians 4:1-20
I have been conducting a series on Galatians with one of my build to points being Galatians 4:4-5. We will begin the new year in Galatians 5 talking about living by the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. Chapter 6 will be an encouragement to us to press on in the new year with the law of sowing and reaping.
I have to admit that I usually look at Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” simply in light of the birth of Jesus Christ. But now looking at these verses in context with the message of Paul to the Galatians they have an even deeper meaning.
Paul is continuing to urge his readers to walk by faith in Jesus Christ and not follow the legal system nor the traditions of the Jewish believers who are still attached to the past. Their biggest requirement that Paul is refuting is circumcision. Paul is using another means of explaining how faith in Christ overrides the legal system of the Old Testament.
He paints the picture of a child heir stating that a child heir is no different from a slave. The estate belongs to him yet he has no control over it. The guardians and trustees have control of the estate until the time, the age set in place for the guardians to step aside and the heir has full control of his estate. Paul says we were like that child heir. We were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But the time set in place has come, “God sent His Son, born of woman, born under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the full rights of sons.” We are no longer a slave but a son. The Spirit of God is now in our hearts so we can call God Abba Father.
We have a one on one relationship with God through Jesus Christ so that we don’t need the guardianship of the law any longer. Paul is perplexed as to why the Galatians are even considering going back to the old way. He compares the pain that he has right now for the Galatians to the pain of childbirth.
My prayer for all as we enter the Christmas season is that we would take a hold of God’s Son to be the Lord and Savior of our lives.
I have to admit that I usually look at Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” simply in light of the birth of Jesus Christ. But now looking at these verses in context with the message of Paul to the Galatians they have an even deeper meaning.
Paul is continuing to urge his readers to walk by faith in Jesus Christ and not follow the legal system nor the traditions of the Jewish believers who are still attached to the past. Their biggest requirement that Paul is refuting is circumcision. Paul is using another means of explaining how faith in Christ overrides the legal system of the Old Testament.
He paints the picture of a child heir stating that a child heir is no different from a slave. The estate belongs to him yet he has no control over it. The guardians and trustees have control of the estate until the time, the age set in place for the guardians to step aside and the heir has full control of his estate. Paul says we were like that child heir. We were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But the time set in place has come, “God sent His Son, born of woman, born under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the full rights of sons.” We are no longer a slave but a son. The Spirit of God is now in our hearts so we can call God Abba Father.
We have a one on one relationship with God through Jesus Christ so that we don’t need the guardianship of the law any longer. Paul is perplexed as to why the Galatians are even considering going back to the old way. He compares the pain that he has right now for the Galatians to the pain of childbirth.
My prayer for all as we enter the Christmas season is that we would take a hold of God’s Son to be the Lord and Savior of our lives.
Friday, December 11, 2009
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE PROMISED SEED, GALATIANS 3:15-29
Paul continues to emphasize to the Galatians that we are justified by faith, that the righteous live by faith, that is about trusting and not trying. This is a part of his effort to combat the Jewish believers that came to Galatia teaching that obeying the law is a requirement to salvation.
In today’s verses Paul is saying that it is all about the promised seed of Abraham. Paul emphasizes that the law came to show us the expectation of the Holy God, to put us into protective custody until the promise came, therefore leading us to Christ. The law could be compared to an x ray machine that reveals the problem but is not the solution. It has also been compared to a light that shows the dirt but it is not the broom that sweeps it up. Therefore the law does not set aside the promise. The promise has priority over the law. The promise is the solution to the problem.
The promised seed of Abraham is the key to our new life, our righteousness, our eternal inheritance, and so much more. We are getting nearer to the celebration of the birth of that Promised seed. I am so glad for that seed, Jesus Christ. I am so thrilled to be an offspring of that seed who has done so much for me. Thank you Lord for your Son.
In today’s verses Paul is saying that it is all about the promised seed of Abraham. Paul emphasizes that the law came to show us the expectation of the Holy God, to put us into protective custody until the promise came, therefore leading us to Christ. The law could be compared to an x ray machine that reveals the problem but is not the solution. It has also been compared to a light that shows the dirt but it is not the broom that sweeps it up. Therefore the law does not set aside the promise. The promise has priority over the law. The promise is the solution to the problem.
The promised seed of Abraham is the key to our new life, our righteousness, our eternal inheritance, and so much more. We are getting nearer to the celebration of the birth of that Promised seed. I am so glad for that seed, Jesus Christ. I am so thrilled to be an offspring of that seed who has done so much for me. Thank you Lord for your Son.
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