Category: Galatians

So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith (Galatians 3:24).

I once worked for a ministry that connected churches in the US with sister churches overseas.  My job was to facilitate communications and streamline the process for the churches to visit one another.  I worked hard, and after a few months I had created a system that was basically automatic.  The churches no longer needed me as a go-between.

I had worked myself out of a job.

Oops

The law kind of worked that way.  It was designed to lead people to Jesus, after which it was no longer needed.  Those who continued to follow the law after the Resurrection were engaging in empty ritual.  Kinda like continuing to read the road map after you’ve arrived. At some point you’ve gotta put the map down and get out of the car.

I wonder how much of our current worship is like that.  How often do we focus on the song instead of the One the song was designed to lead us to?  How many times have we paid more attention to the performers than to the true Audience?  In how many of our churches–and hearts–do we value form over function?  

I stayed with that job for a few months after I had redundificated myself.  I pretended to my bosses and myself that my job still had value, but frankly it had none.  It was some of the least fulfilling time I have ever spent.

Hmm…something to chew on.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.  (Galatians 3:23).

The Jews were bound by the do’s and don’ts

by the jot and the tiddle

by the special day and the right month

by the rules and the restrictions

eat this but not that

go here but not there

now but not then

with him but not her

and for God’s sake wash your hands

until faith was revealed.

Yep, that’s what bound them.

Beloved, what’s your excuse?

Happy Thursday

But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Christ Jesus, might be given to those who believe (Galatians 3:22).

It’s a trap you cannot escape.

You can fight

you can dig

you  can beg

you can strain

you can weep

you can press

you can shout

you can lift

you can scream defiance to the cosmos

you  can employ all the awesome mightiness

of your pathetic puniness

against the trap.

But you cannot escape.

You must be set free by another.

Lucky for you, Beloved,

I know a guy.

Happy Wednesday.

Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God?  Absolutely not!  For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law (Galatians 3:21).

If

If you could have earned it, God would have let you.

He knows you like to do stuff, to accomplish things.

He wants you to work hard and make things happen in your world.

He’s not trying to take anything away from you.

But this…

It’s just too much. 

It can’t be done.

That’s not a challenge, Beloved.

It’s a fact,

and you don’t have to prove yourself,

you just have to accept him.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

The law was put into effect by angels through a mediator.  A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one (Galatians 3:19-20).

Moses was God’s mediator to Israel.  

No pressure there.

He was the go-between for the two sides of the agreement. And it was a two-party agreement, an “If you…then I” sort of thing.

“If you honor me, then I will honor you.”

“If you follow me, then I will bless you.”

“If you disobey me, then I will squish you.”

But God’s covenant with Abraham was not a two-party agreement.  He did not demand anything from Abraham in return for his blessing.  He simply made the promise.

A promise, by the way, that applies to you, remember?  

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit…

Yeah, that part.

So, Beloved you are a recipient, not a participant.  The promise is yours, no strings attached.

So…don’t attach strings, OK?

Happy Monday, Beloved.

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come (Galatians 3:19).

Kids need boundaries.

Look around.  Just about every law we have in place is designed to curb some foolish and/or evil desire of Man.  From speeding to slaughter, it’ll happen unless society says “No.”

And sometimes even if we do.

Oh, you can argue with the number of laws we have, or how restrictive they are, but the fact is that anarchy is a launching pad for evil.  We just can’t handle total freedom.

God, being God, knew that, and gave his people the law.  It worked to keep sin under a measure of control until Christ arrived.

I don’t know what boundaries God has placed in your life today.  Maybe they’re financial, or relational, or career, or even physical.  You probably chafe under those limitations the same way I chafe under mine.  So here’s a thought: What say we look at these restrictions as God-given boundaries, provided, not imposed, given for a purpose and with all the wisdom and love that the Lord of the Universe has for us.

Until, you know, the time of the Promise has come.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise (Galatians 3:18).

It doesn’t depend on the law.

By extension–it doesn’t depend on your observance of the law.

By extrapolation–it doesn’t depend on you.

By implication–you have no control of it.

So Beloved–is that freeing

or frightening?

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise (Galatians 3:17).

The promise is where it began.

The promise is where it will end.

The law had value, and served its purpose, but law was never intended to be your master.  You have only one Master, one Lord, one King, and he chooses not to crush you with Law, but to lift you with Grace.

If you’ll let him.

So…um..you know…let him.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life.  Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in  this case (Galatians 3:15).

Some years ago, my family was involved in a legal situation.  I won’t give any details, lest I become involved in another legal situation.

If you get my drift.  

Suffice to say that all parties met with attorneys and mediator people, and left the room with a common understanding and a signed agreement, 

which lasted for a day.

Then, one of the parties called to say that they had not understood the intent and details of the agreement, even though they signed a legal document stating that they understood the intent and details of the agreement.

Back to square one.

So, not to disagree with Paul, but I’m figuring contracts were a bit more iron-cladical in his day.  In any case, the point stands: God made a promise, and that promise is not going anywhere.  Our covenant is not with fickle man, but with faithful God.  And he’s not about to call you back and say he didn’t understand what he was signing.

Happy Monday, Beloved.