We are wrapping up our 7 Minutes a Day series in Galatians today. Paul finishes up the letter by challenging the believers to walk out grace in a few specific areas of their daily lives.
1. He starts by telling them to walk together in this life of grace, bearing one anthers burdens. Grace is a message that unifies, works compete and divide.
When one’s life is focused on grace, not works, it affects how we deal with others who are struggling. A believer’s response to sin in another’s life is to be one of gentleness; helping them walk through the struggle and eventually change.
2. Grace is generous. Paul encourages the believers to share resources with each other, even with your teacher. In doing so, Paul gives place for those who work as pastors, teachers, or missionaries to earn support through the work of the ministry.
3. If you sow in grace, you will reap in grace. Paul shows the believers that as they trust and depend on God, growth can be expected. Believer’s who live a life of dependence upon God (in the Spirit) will reap to the spirit. Those who sow to the flesh will reap the flesh. (See Galatians 5:17-19)
Grace stands in opposition to a “Jesus +” message focusing on man and his attempts to please God.
Grace levels the playing field. Grace does away with comparison and competition. Grace brings people together. Grace focuses on others, not oneself.
The key passage in the whole chapter comes from verses 14-15. “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”
The only thing to boast in is the work of Christ, not man’s personal accomplishments. Paul states that it is no longer faith based on race (Jew or Gentile), but now it is based on being a new creation. This is available through faith to all who believe regardless of ethnicity, sex, or background.
Paul leaves the Galatians to walk with their eyes focused on Jesus, boasting in Him and His cross.
“For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” This can only come through trusting in God to do what you cannot.
What is your take away from this study? How will the reality of grace change your everyday life? Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.com