Day 27 - Faith Alone!

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Prayer Suggestion |

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of sin, and give us the liberty of the abundant life which you have made known to us in our Savior, Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

The St. Helena Breviary | Church Publishing Inc. | © 2006 | ISBN 978-0-89869-516-8


Bible in Time |

Monday | First Full Week in Lent |
New Testament Study, Day 27 |


It’s 50 CE/a.d.


Today: Background on Galatians


Tuesday 2/23/2021: Galatians 1


February Assignments Calendar


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Edwards has asked us to pause and read the Letter to the Galatians. In his way of thinking, this letter is the first piece of Christian literature that was written. Other scholars would place 1 Thessalonians as the first. Both are educated guess by people of faith.  The content of the Letter matters.


I am using Mark Powells Introducing the New Testament, First Edition, Chapter 15 - Galatians, pp. 306 - 321 as the source of this background for you.


“You foolish, Galatians!” is the main theme of Paul’s outrage at the Galatians for turning away from the Gospel/Jesus/God’s New Plan and going back to old ways. After Paul had come to them and gave them of Gospel of Christ, a group of people believing in Judaism (Jesus was a Jewish Messiah) teaches the Galatians that they must turn into Jews before receiving the Gospel of Christ. This makes Paul very mad.


Paul sees this change of faith as fundamental in who God and Jesus is and the route to salvation. They are deserting God and perverting the gospel of Christ. (1:6-7) This is a false message.


Paul says they are fools for allowing anyone to convince them that the Crucified Christ is insufficient for them. (Powell, p. 308)


Paul has defended all Gentiles and has gotten a decision from the Church in Jerusalem that Gentiles do NOT have to follow Jewish tradition but Christ alone.


The Gospel that Paul has received is from God so the Galatians should believe it.


According to Powell, Paul says the issue I s do you need to become a Jew to be a Christian? His answer is NO!


Paul’s answer to this is:

  • People are saved and justified by faith in Jesus Christ

    • Anything else nullifies the grace of God

  • God’s grace is now universal in scope and not confined to one group of people or tradition. 

    • All distinctions have been removed for all in Christ (3:28)

  • God had brought in Jesus something brand new. The old is gone and we are made new in Jesus. (Powell, p. 315)

  • The Holy Spirit overrides anything old and the effect of the Law. It is the Spirit that transforms and will do this continuously. (Powell, p. 371)

  • The Spirit indwells and produces new fruit- love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. (5:22-23)


You are made new so get with it!


Other materials -

Map | First Missionary Journey

Map | Second Missionary Journey

(great review at bottom of page)


Invite your friends to our journey.


In Christ,


Dave Eitland

deitland@gmail.com


Note: “Revo.”, “Revolutionary”, “Edwards” refers to our textbook “Revolutionary Bible Study” by Gene Edwards, ISBN 978-0-97975157-8, © 2009.


Also used notes from the New Oxford Annotated Bible, 5th Edition, © 2018. (NOAB5)


Posted to blog - 2/9/2021

Image Credit via Google Images - 

https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/paul-controversial-apostle

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