Galatians
Hugh’s study series on Galatians explores Paul's biblical letter, tackling the question of how to live in a way that pleases God. On the one hand, you could be trusting in the power of the cross, On the other hand, you could be trying to please God by living in your own strength.
After planting many churches alongside Barnabas, Paul goes on a second missionary journey to check on how those churches are doing. When he returns to his base in Antioch, Paul hears about some churches that are coming under pressure to follow the legalism of the Law of Moses rather than the liberty found in Christ.
In this second chapter, we see Paul standing firmly by his principles, both in Jerusalem over Titus and in Antioch with Peter. Paul is back in Jerusalem, able to back up his convictions with his experience of ministering around Cilicia, and is delighted that once again he is endorsed. It is his confidence in his convictions in practice as well as in theory that gives him so much boldness.
This chapter has a wonderful focus on the promise of God and shows us how the law doesn’t undermine it. Because the promise of God finds its fulfilment in and through Christ when we put our faith in the promise of God we are in fact placing our faith in Christ.
This is another great chapter about the freedom that comes from knowing God and being known by Him. It should mark a turning point in our lives from which there should be no going back. In the illustrations that Paul uses, we can see the folly of leaving the better for the lesser.
The freedom emphasised in this chapter is not just a ‘freedom from’ but a ‘freedom to be’, particularly the freedom to be a person who fulfils the law through love. This emphasis on fulfilling the law is to be welcomed as Paul is not encouraging lawlessness but is pointing out that it is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we can become what God wants us to be.
In this chapter, we see clearly the benefits of living in a way that pleases the Lord but more than that we have before us the example of Paul who gave himself so unstintingly in serving the Lord Jesus that he ended up bearing the marks of his service in his body. This should be an inspiration to us as we reflect on the depth of concern and compassion that Paul expresses throughout this letter.
I love this kind of practical challenge. It’s far, far better than the ‘I don’t get it so I’ll just ignore it’ approach. But practical challenges need practical replies, and that puts the pressure on me to be just as practical in responding. I’ll start by giving you two options and then fill them in with some more details…
Trying to build daily bible reading into our schedules can be a challenge, but I can assure you that it will be well worth it. Most of us timewise don’t see a bible reading-shaped gap in our lives that is crying out to be filled. But while we scurry around to fulfil our packed timetables, perhaps we secretly wish there could be some stabilising and inspirational input regularly going into our lives…